Arthroscopic Elbow Debridement

1. DIET

• Begin with clear liquids and light foods (Jell-O, 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 wrist or hand occurs
• It is normal for the elbow to bleed and swell following surgery – if blood soaks onto the bandage, do not become alarmed – reinforce with additional dressing
• Remove surgical dressing on the 2nd post-operative day – if minimal drainage is present, apply Band-Aids over incisions and change daily
• To avoid infection, keep surgical incisions clean and dry – you may shower starting the day after surgery if you seal the surgical site with plastic around the ACE
• Once surgical dressing has been removed (2nd day) you may place waterproof Band-Aids over incisions to shower, change bandages daily. Do not scrub the area and pat to dry. NO immersion of operative arm (i.e. bath)

3. MEDICATIONS

• Pain medication is injected into the wound and elbow 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 – this can be taken as per directions on the bottle
• 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
• If you are having problems with nausea and vomiting, contact the office to possibly have your medication changed ( – ask for Dr. Howard’s medical assistant)
• Do not drive a car or operate machinery while taking the narcotic medication
• Ibuprofen 400-600mg (i.e. Advil) may be taken in between the narcotic pain medication to help smooth out the post-operative ‘peaks and valleys’, reduce overall amount of pain medication required, and increase the time intervals between narcotic pain medication usage
• Do NOT take additional Tylenol (Acetaminophen) if taking Norco

4. ACTIVITY

• Elevate the operative arm to chest level whenever possible to decrease swelling
• When sleeping or resting, inclined positions (i.e. reclining chair) and a pillow under the forearm for support may provide better comfort
• Do not engage in activities which increase pain/swelling (lifting or any repetitive wrist/elbow/shoulder movements) over the first 7-10 days following surgery
• Avoid long periods of sitting (without arm elevated) or long distance traveling for 2 weeks
• NO driving until instructed otherwise by physician
• May return to sedentary work ONLY or school 3-4 days after surgery, if pain is tolerable
• Formal physical therapy typically begins 7-10 days postoperatively. Please call your physical therapy location of choice (within 2-3 days after surgery) to schedule appointments.

5. IMMOBILIZER

• Your sling should be worn for comfort and removed for exercise and hygiene
• You may remove for gentle range of motion of your shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand

6. ICE THERAPY

• Begin immediately after surgery
• Use icing machine continuously or ice packs (if machine not prescribed) every 2 hours for 20 minutes daily until your first post-operative visit – remember to keep arm elevated to level of chest while icing

7. EXERCISE

• Gentle shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand range of motion exercises can be performed beginning on the first post-operative day
• Formal physical therapy (PT) will begin about 7-10 days post-operatively. Please contact your physical therapy location of choice 2-3 days after surgery to schedule appointments.

8. EMERGENCIES

• Contact Dr. Howard or his staff at 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