Foot Surgery Guide for Patients – The Pre-Operative Process

Patients about to undergo foot surgery do well afterwards if they know about what to expect from surgery.

Here is a guide for patients scheduled for foot or ankle surgery.

Step 1 – Medical Testing Before Surgery

Medical testing required for patients before surgery is also known as pre-admission testing (PATs). PATs help to evaluate the patient’s medical fitness prior to surgery. Such tests may include blood samples from patients, heart exam, chest X-ray and/or a complete history and physical examination by your doctor.

Step 2 – Medications

Some medicines can prove dangerous if taken just before or after surgery. Your surgeon will tell you which medicines must be stopped before or withheld after surgery, such as –

• Aspirin – It can increase bleeding during surgery.
• NSAIDs or Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs before or after surgery – These can reduce blood’s ability to clot and slow down bone healing.
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and/or birth control pills (OCP) – These may increase the risk of having blood clots.
• Some health supplements and herbal preparations – These can increase bleeding.

Step 3 – Smoking

Tobacco and cigarettes contain nicotine and other chemicals which can increase the risk of having problems after surgery. Nicotine slows down the flow of blood at the site of surgery. It can also impede bone, soft tissue and wound healing.

To get the best results from your foot surgery, you should stop using nicotine-containing products well before surgery.

Step 4 – Mobility Devices

After your foot or ankle surgery, your doctor would advise you not to put weight on that foot or ankle for some time. This is done to allow you to heal well after surgery. To do so, you may need a mobility assist device like crutches, knee walkers or a wheelchair. Discuss this with your doctor and prepare in advance.

You may also want to ask for help from family and friends till the time you are unable to move around on your own.

Step 5 – Eating and Drinking

You wouldn’t be allowed to eat or drink after midnight on the night before your day of surgery. This is done to ensure that your stomach is empty by the time of anesthesia and surgery. This decreases the risk of nausea or vomiting with anesthesia.

If you have been advised foot surgery, consult an experienced podiatrist in Phoenix, Arizona and Scottsdale at Oasis Foot and Ankle to get you back on your feet as soon as possible. Call 602-993-2700 to book an appointment today.