Suture Care After Orthopedic Surgery

Proper care for your incision after orthopedic surgery is crucial for giving your surgery a chance to heal and minimizing complications. At Space Coast Orthopedics, we are here to help you through all stages of your orthopedic care, and when you’re recovering from your incision at home, our team will ensure that you’ll have the specific instructions needed to heal safely. So, what should you do when you’re caring for your sutures? Here are some tips that you can follow

How To Care For Your Sutures After Orthopedic Surgery

Depending on the extensiveness of the procedure and the complexity of your treatment, you would receive post-operative instructions on how to handle your suture dressing at home. However, we’re here to expand on your suture care by providing a few tips of our own:

• Caring For Your Incision: Until otherwise instructed by your healthcare provider, keeping your incision and dressing dry and clean is important. When bathing, take precautions to cover the dressing to prevent it from getting wet by using a |cast bag” or a clean garbage bag wrapped with tape to shield the area from moisture. Depending on the extent of your surgery, it’s important to follow those instructions until it’s safe to expose the incision to water. 
• Avoid Strenuous Activities: Avodi activities such as heavy lifting and jogging until your healthcare provider gives the green light. This also includes activities such as driving. By avoiding these activities, you can be more gentle on your body as it heals and avoid activities that potentially rip at or harm the incision. 
• Elevate Your Body: When you have incisions on an extremity, such as an arm or a leg, propping it up with pillows so that it’s higher than the heart can help prevent the onset of swelling to the incision. Swelling is often the result of the body’s attempt to protect the damaged area, but it can also interfere with the body’s healing process. Change your position every few hours to protect the affected limb, whether sitting or lying down.
• Caring For Your Medical Equipment: Depending on the type of surgery you went through, your healthcare providers have probably provided you with braces, splints, slings, and crutches. Make sure to follow the instructions your healthcare provider gives you for your equipment so that you can properly use it for moving around while you heal. 
• Pain Medications For You Incisions: Your provider will most likely provide pain medications such as Oxycodone or Tramodol to manage post-operative pain. Make sure to follow the prescribed dosage and schedule, but more importantly, pay attention to any potential side effects that may come from your medication and keep up with a healthy diet, drink 8 ounces of water daily, and keep your fiber content high for an easier healing experience. 

Take Charge of Your Orthopedic Health Today! 

Your orthopedic health is too important to ignore. Take the first step towards a pain-free, active lifestyle by contacting Space Coast Orthopedics today. Our compassionate team, under the care of Dr. Luc Teurlings, is ready to guide you on your path to recovery and help you regain control of your orthopedic well-being. Call us at (321) 459-1446 or visit our location at Merritt Island, FL, to learn more and schedule your consultation. Take your time with your orthopedic health. We’re here to support you every step of the way!