Hip Fracture Intra-medullary Nail

1. DIET

  • Begin with clear liquids and light foods (jellos, soups, etc.)

  • Progress to your normal diet if you are not nauseated

2. WOUND CARE

  • Maintain your operative dressing, it is an adhesive bandage, if it starts to peel off reinforce with silk tape

  • It is normal for the hip to bleed and swell following surgery – if blood soaks onto the bandage, do not become alarmed – reinforce with additional dressing.

  • Surgical dressing may be removed 10-14 days after surgery at your first post-operative appointment.

  • To avoid infection, keep surgical incisions clean and dry – you may shower once bandage is removed

  • NO immersion of operative leg (i.e. bath)

3. MEDICATIONS

Do not drive a car or operate machinery while taking the narcotic medication*, and increase the time intervals between narcotic pain medication usage

  • Most patients will require some narcotic pain medication for a short period of time.

  • Primary Medication Oxycodone

    • Take 1 tablet every 4 – 6 hours as needed (If pain is severe may take 2 tablets)

    • Max of 12 pills per day

    • Plan on using it for 2 to 5 days, depending on level of pain

    • Take additional Tylenol (Acetaminophen) or Naproxen (Aleve) as needed.

  • Common side effects of the pain medication are nausea, drowsiness, and constipation – to decrease the side effects, take medication with food.

  • If constipation occurs, consider taking an over-the-counter laxative such as prune juice, Senekot, Colace (or Periocolase), or Miralax.

  • If you are having problems with nausea and vomiting, contact the office to possibly have your medication changed

  • For nausea, take prescribed Zofran

 

4. ACTIVITY

  • Begin walking with walker and therapist the day after surgery unless otherwise instructed.

  • Discomfort and hip stiffness is normal for a few days following surgery – it is safe and, in fact preferable to move your hip (unless otherwise instructed by physician).

  • Do ankle pumps continuously throughout the day to reduce the possibility of a blood clot in your calf.

  • Formal physical therapy (PT) will begin immediately after surgery so that you may ambulate in the hospital or surgery center.

5. ICE THERAPY

  • Begin immediately after surgery.

  • Use ice packs every 2 hours for 20 minutes daily until your first post-operative visit

6. EMERGENCIES**

Contact Dr. Aran or the office at 305 667 8686 if any of the following are present:

  • Painful swelling or numbness

  • Unrelenting pain

  • Fever (over 101° - it is normal to have a low grade fever for the first day or two following surgery) or chills

  • Redness around incisions

  • Continuous drainage or bleeding from incision (a small amount of drainage is expected)

  • Difficulty breathing

  • Excessive nausea/vomiting

7. FOLLOW UP CARE/QUESTIONS

A member of Dr. Aran’s team will call you on your first day after surgery to address any questions or concerns. If you have not been contacted within 48 hours of surgery, please call the office at 305-667-8686. • If you do not already have a postoperative appointment scheduled, please contact the office during normal office hours and ask for appointment scheduling.