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Before | During | After   Knee Surgery

This chart will give you a day by day look at the care you will receive from the time you arrive at the hospital, to when you go home.

Click on the tabs below to view the individual days
Click here for a printable version of the Patient Care Guide for Knee Replacement
in .pdf format.
If you do not have the Acrobat Reader it can be downloaded free of charge.

 
  Diet
  • IV started for fluids and medications.
  • Starting with ice cubes and then taking soups and liquids
  Bathroom Functions
  • Urine output monitored.
  • May have a catheter.
  Hygiene
  • Bathed by nurse after surgery.
  • Mouth care by nurse.
  Wound Care and Test or Treatments
  • Temperature, blood pressure, and pulse are monitored frequently.
  • May have large or small dressing checked and reinforced as required. May need changing.
  • Support stocking (TEDS) may be worn to improve blood flow. Special inflatable socks and air pump may also be used.
  • May have drain in knee.
  Medication Note: All medications to be given by your nurse.
  Rehabilitation Activities or Exercises
Hourly exercises until discharged:
  Preparing for Discharge
  • Discharge is expected within 5-7 days.
  Diet
  • Full Fluids to regular diet.
  • IV started for fluids and medications.
  Bathroom Functions
  • Start stool softeners for bowels.
  • To bathroom by commode / walker with help.
  Hygiene
  • You will bath yourself and brush your teeth, with some help from the nurse.
  Wound Care and Test or Treatments
  • Blood drawn for testing.
  • Dress and wound monitored, may be changed.
  • Temperature, blood pressure, pulse monitored.
  • May have x-ray of knee.
  • Drain may be removed or continued.
  Medication Note: All medications to be given by your nurse.
  • Pain medication may change to pill.
  • Ask nurse for pain pill as needed. (every 3-6 hours)
  • Try to take the pain pill before getting up with the Physiotherapist.
  • Continue Blood thinner (Anticoagulants).
  • Continue with PCA pump for pain.
  • May have oxygen.
  Rehabilitation Activities or Exercises
  • Weight bearing will be demonstrated and explained.
  • Up in chair with nursing staff and/or physiotherapy staff.
  • Movement from bed to chair with assistance using walker.
  • Assessed by Physiotherapist.
  • Start daily exercises in bed and chair and continue 3-6 times per day until discharge.
  • Continue breathing and coughing exercises.
  Preparing for Discharge
  • Referral to Social Work if needed.
  • Need for other services may be identified by Discharge Planner.
  Diet
  • Regular diet (high fiber).
  • IV removed if drinking enough liquids and medication is finished.
  Bathroom Functions
  • Continue stool softeners.
  • Solo trips to the bathroom may be possible.
  • Laxative may be required.
  Hygiene
  • You will bath yourself, with some help from the nurse.
  Wound Care and Test or Treatments
  • Dressing changed.
  • Temperature, blood pressure, pulse monitored.
  • Blood drawn for testing.
  • Drain usually removed.
  Medication Note: All medications to be given by your nurse.
  • Continue pain pills. Remember to ask the nurse for pills if needed.
  • Oxygen removed.
  Rehabilitation Activities or Exercises
  • Begin at least two walks per day.
  • Transfer in and out of bed frequently.
  • Increase activity.
  • Increase walking distance daily.
  • Continue daily exercises independently.
  • Bend and straighten your knee as much as possible. Your goal is to completely straighten your knee and bend to 90 degrees or more.
  • Continue breathing and coughing exercises.
  Preparing for Discharge
  • Referral to Social Work if needed.
  • Need for other services may be identified by Discharge Planner.
  Diet
  • Regular diet.
  Bathroom Functions
  • Foley catheter man be removed.
  • Trips to the bathroom possible, so no more bedpans or urinals.
  • Up in chair for all meals.
  • If no bowel movement, a laxative may be given.
  Hygiene
  • Dresses self with help.
  • Encouraged to wear own clothes.
  • Encouraged to bath self at bedside.
  Wound Care and Test or Treatments
  • Dressing changed.
  • Blood drawn for testing.
  Medication Note: All medications to be given by your nurse.
  • Continue pain pills. Remember to ask the nurse for pills if needed.
  Rehabilitation Activities or Exercises
  • Up in chair for all meals.
  • Walking is progressed in room, bathroom and hallway 3-4 times daily with walker.
  • Distance of walk should be 50-70 meters.
  • Increase walking distance daily.
  • Continue breathing and coughing exercises.
  Preparing for Discharge
  • Continue discussion of discharge needs with patient / family.
  • Information about community support services discussed with patient / family.
  Diet
  • Continue regular diet.
  Bathroom Functions
  • May have suppository if no bowel movement since surgery.
  • Up in chair for all meals.
  • Trips to the bathroom like normal.
  Hygiene
  • Bathes self. Nurse will do your back.
  • You dress yourself.
  Wound Care and Test or Treatments
  • Change dressing.
  • Blood drawn for testing.
  Medication Note: All medications to be given by your nurse.
  • Continue pain pills. Remember to ask the nurse for pills if needed.
  Rehabilitation Activities or Exercises
  • Walking 70-100 meters with less assistance.
  • May start using cane if recommended by Physiotherapist.
  • Walks independently with equipment.
  • Exercises done independently 3 to 6 times a day
  • In and out of bed by self.
  • Continue breathing and coughing exercises.
  Preparing for Discharge
  • Date of discharge identified.
  • Begin arrangements for service or equipment needs at home.
  Diet
  • Continue regular diet.
  Bathroom Functions
  • Up in chair for all meals.
  • Trips to the bathroom like normal.
  Hygiene
  • Bathes self. Nurse will do your back.
  • You dress yourself.
  Wound Care and Test or Treatments
  • Change dressing.
  • Blood drawn for testing.
  Medication Note: All medications to be given by your nurse.
  • Continue pain pills. Remember to ask the nurse for pills if needed.
  Rehabilitation Activities or Exercises
  • Moving about on own.
  • Demonstrates stair climbing with assistance.
  • Review daily activities, equipment and exercises.
  • Extra Mural will be contacted if needed.
  • Continue breathing and coughing exercises.
  Preparing for Discharge
  • Date of discharge identified.
  • Begin arrangements for service or equipment needs at home.
  Diet
  • Plan on high fiber diet while on pain medication at home.
  Bathroom Functions
  • Ask your nurse if stool softeners are recommended with your pain medication.
  Hygiene
  • Shower as directed by surgeon.
  Wound Care and Test or Treatments
  • You will be instructed when to have your staples or clips removed. You will also be told who will remove them.
  Medication Note: All medications to be given by your nurse.
  • Ask your nurse about any changes with your home medications.
  • Get prescriptions for any new medications.
  • Get home medications back from nurse.
  Rehabilitation Activities or Exercises
  • Independent with exercises.
  • In and out of bed by self.
  • Climb stairs safely.
  • Able to walk 100 meters.
  • Determine what walking equipment is needed and and acquire it. This could be a walker or a cane.
  • Extramural services arranged as needed (home visits).
  • Make note of current knee bend, and continue doing exercises at home 6 times a day.
  Preparing for Discharge
  • Book a follow-up appointment.
  • Community support services confirmed as required.
  • DO NOT DRIVE until follow-up appointment with surgeon.