Quad tendon repair
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, loosen bandage if swelling of the foot or ankle occurs.
It is normal for the knee to bleed and swell following surgery – if blood soaks onto the bandage, do not become alarmed – reinforce with additional dressing.
Do not remove surgical dressing we will remove it at your first post operative appointment
To avoid infection, keep dressing dry – once your dressing is removed you may shower
NO immersion of operative leg (i.e. bath) *Brace may come off to shower once bandage is removed
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
Pain medication is injected into the wound and knee joint during surgery – this will wear off within 8-12 hours.
Most patients will require some narcotic pain medication for a short period of time.
Primary Medication Percocet 5/325 mg
Take 1-2 tablets every 4 – 6 hours as needed
Max of 10 pills per day
Plan on using it for 2 to 5 days, depending on level of pain
Take additional Naproxen or Ibuprofen as needed.
Common side effects of the pain medication are nausea, drowsiness, and constipation – to decrease the side effects, take medication with food.
You will also be given aspirin 162 mg daily to avoid blood clots for 6 weeks.
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 / Phenergan
4. ACTIVITY
Begin exercises 24 hours after surgery (straight legs raises and ankle pumps) unless otherwise instructed.
Discomfort and knee stiffness is normal for a few days following surgery – You will be locked in full extension in the knee brace for 2 weeks.
Complete exercises 3-4 times daily until your first postoperative visit – your motion goals are to have complete extension (straightening) and complete ankle motion by first post operative visit
Do ankle pumps continuously throughout the day to reduce the possibility of a blood clot in your calf (extremely uncommon).
Formal physical therapy (PT) will begin after your first postoperative visit. You will be given a script for this at that time.
5. ICE THERAPY
Begin immediately after surgery.
Use ice packs every 2 hours for 20 minutes daily until your first post-operative visit – remember to keep leg elevated to level of chest while icing.
6. EXERCISE
Begin exercises 24 hours after surgery (straight leg raises and ankle pumps) unless otherwise instructed.
Do ankle pumps continuously throughout the day to reduce the possibility of a blood clot in your calf (extremely uncommon).
Formal physical therapy (PT) will begin after your first postoperative visit. You will be given a script for this at that time.
7. 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
Color change in wrist or hand
Continuous drainage or bleeding from incision (a small amount of drainage is expected)
Difficulty breathing
Excessive nausea/vomiting
8. 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.