Going Home after Shoulder Surgery

Overnight Surgical Patients

You may go home when you are ready. This is usually the morning after your surgery if you had an arthroscopy only or AC jt reconstruction. You may require another 24 hours if a rotator cuff repair took place.

You will usually be seen by Jane the following day (usually a Thursday) and your discharge and follow-up appointment will be arranged. I usually do a ward round the evening after your surgery (usually the Thursday night) but you do not need to wait if Jane has organized your discharge.

Upon your discharge, you must be accompanied home by a responsible adult. Even if you are travelling by taxi, you must be accompanied by someone other than the taxi driver. You should not travel by public transportation for the rest of the day.

We advise you not to perform any tasks requiring skill, co ordination, or judgment, or to make any legal decisions within 24 hours after your operation.

Rest quietly at home for the rest of the day and evening. A responsible adult should stay with you for assistance and company.

Do not drive a motor vehicle or operate any hazardous equipment for 24 hours after your operation.

A) Wound Care

At the end of the procedure the wounds are infiltrated with a long acting local anaesthetic. You should therefore be quite comfortable when you wake from the anaesthetic.

The bandage may absorb some of the tissue drainage from these wound sites. The outer bandage may be removed after 48 hours  but the Band-Aids and “steri-strips” should be left intact for at least five days.

It should otherwise be kept as dry as possible during the first few days, at least 48 hours after surgery.

You may leave the wound intact but if you wish to shower after this period it is advised you change your dressing to a light dry dressing. This may be changed each time the wound gets wet at showering. Some swelling and discomfort around your incision is normal.

Call Dr Haber's Surgery, (or if after hours, the hospital your surgery was performed) immediately if you notice any of the following: excessive pain, excessive swelling, fever, chills, bleeding or discolouration, drainage from the incision.

B) Pain Control

The Anaesthetist will give you a prescription for medication to control pain. It may be filled at the hospital's pharmacy if at Illawarra Hospital or at your local pharmacy after discharge from Wollongong Day Surgery.

Take the prescribed medication as ordered when you need it. The pain should improve slowly within a few days.

C) Regular medication

If you are taking any regular medications, please  resume them after your surgery.

D) Follow-up

We will give you a follow-up appointment. Please call us if you are unable to attend.

Call Dr Haber's Surgery, (or if after hours, the hospital your surgery was performed) if:

• Pain is not relieved by your prescribed medication;

• You notice signs of infection such as fever, chills, drainage from the incision, redness and/or swelling of the incision;

• Bleeding that does not stop after 15 minutes of direct pressure;

• Your incision opens.

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