What You Need to Know Before Your Bunion Surgery
Learn the top 5 things that will help you know what to expect during your bunion removal experience, and how to be back on your feet as quickly as possible.
A bunion, as you probably know, is that bump on your big toe.
It is removed by shaving it off the bone; often the bone is fractured and a screw is placed temporarily (approximately three months) to secure it into an optimal position.
1.
Scheduling Your Surgery The procedure (called a bunionectomy) is usually done on an outpatient basis, meaning you check in and out the same day, often into an outpatient (ambulatory) surgery center.
Typically you are required to have nothing to eat or drink for several hours prior to your procedure.
Depending on other factors (age, general health, etc.
) you may be required to have some lab tests (which is scheduled and have done at least the day before your surgery) to screen for anything out of the ordinary.
Depending on procedural policies at your particular surgery center, you may receive a call from your anesthesiologist, the doctor who will deliver sedation for your surgery.
He or she will ask some routine questions in order to best meet your needs.
The scheduling staff, either from your Doctor's office, the surgery center, or both, as well as the nursing staff will all contact you.
Schedulers are determining insurance coverage, consent forms and, of course, scheduling; the nursing staff will further screen your basic health back ground, as well as initiate teaching.
You will need to know what to expect on arrival, during your procedure, and what you need after you get home.
2.
The Day of Surgery: You arrive, usually with someone who has driven you in for your procedure (You will NOT be driving home; do not ignore this directive).
You have not had anything to eat or drink; you check in with the front desk staff; there are more consents and privacy policies to sign, insurance cards to provide.
You may sit and wait a bit.
Next, you are invited back to the surgical unit.
Now it seems more real.
Usually there is an area to change into your backless gown, meaning you totally disrobe (some centers let you keep your underwear on, but not all do); you may get a locker to store your belongings.
At this time you may be asked to remove glasses, contact lenses, all pierced jewelry, etc.
This is as much for your protection as anything.
For example, sometimes an electrocautery device may be needed during your procedure to coagulate a bleeding vessel (sounds a lot more serious than it is); the current could be attracted to metal on your skin, leading to a burn.
At some centers you are allowed to keep dentures in place, hearing aids, glasses, etc.
, until or unless you need to remove them.
3.
Immediately Before Surgery Next you start your pre-operative care: a checklist to ensure you haven't eaten or drank, checking consents, possibly more consents, paper work blah blah blah.
You will be fitted for a post-op "shoe" which is a rigid-soled, velcro-tabbed support that will be your best friend for the next several weeks.
It is not attractive, but it does the job to protect you post-procedural foot.
You may also be fitted for crutches, depending on your particular circumstances.
Your foot will probably be scrubbed or painted with a betadine solution to kill germs (cold, wet, brown, but good for your foot).
You will be given a flimsy cap to cover your hair (to prevent infection).
So now you are looking pretty good; your foot is brown from the betadine, you are thirsty, you are wearing a stupid cap, no make-up, you hope no one is really noticing you (actually they're not, this is just another day).
Either a nurse or the anesthesiologist will place an intravenous line in your hand,, wrist, or the inner crook of your elbow; you may or may not have a little numbing agent prior.
It is uncomfortable but only for a moment.
There is no needle in your vein after this, just an extremely flexible, sterile plastic tube-let, as flexible as cooked spaghetti.
We are so fortunate in this day and age! Eventually, your surgeon shows up and greets you.
Things are happening more quickly; the flurry of check, re-checks, signing consents (the surgeon rechecks everything), and you now meet your operating room nurse, and darned if he/she doesn't go through another checklist.
You may be feeling frustrated by this point but you should feel good; these measures are in place to protect you.
(WHICH foot is it? Right; left?) It's kind of like the clerk at the department store who asks for additional ID; someone is watching out for you.
4.
Surgery Your bed on wheels takes you into the operating room; this is it.
You will be greeted by your OR scrub tech, or perhaps it is an RN, and perhaps you met them before surgery (if you didn't it's only because they were in surgery already and couldn't leave to introduce themselves).
Everyone in the room will be in gown, masks, and odd headwear, maybe like your head cover.
You will move onto the operating "table", which is hard, cold (fresh sheets!) and narrow (so surgeons can reach anywhere easily).
You will have electrodes attached to your torso and arm, a blood pressure cuff applied to your arm (hopefully the one without the IV), and usually a cold gel-based pad in case you have cautery to coagulate blood vessels.
Next, your anesthesiologist, who will be behind your head, will begin instructing you on what is coming next.
Next, you will either: Be completely inducted into general anesthesia, awakening after the procedure is finished, Be given local anesthesia, which means numbing medication is injected into your foot for the procedure, OR (Most likely) You will be given, through your IV, a short-acting sleep agent, and your surgeon injects the numbing medication while you are sedated.
When you wake up, the procedure will be underway and you won't feel any discomfort.
5.
After Surgery Once the surgery is finished you will be placed back on your guerney (the bed on wheels) and taken back to the PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit).
Your foot will be elevated, cold packs applied, fluids offered for you to drink.
There will be a lot of instructions both verbal and written for you and your caregiver to follow.
Your significant other hopefully will be by your side.
Your post-operative "shoe" will be applied, crutches if ordered, you will be asked to empty your bladder once, just to check, and your surgeon will stop by if there is time.
this usually happens within an hour.
Your instructions for your care at home are important as well.
A bunion, as you probably know, is that bump on your big toe.
It is removed by shaving it off the bone; often the bone is fractured and a screw is placed temporarily (approximately three months) to secure it into an optimal position.
1.
Scheduling Your Surgery The procedure (called a bunionectomy) is usually done on an outpatient basis, meaning you check in and out the same day, often into an outpatient (ambulatory) surgery center.
Typically you are required to have nothing to eat or drink for several hours prior to your procedure.
Depending on other factors (age, general health, etc.
) you may be required to have some lab tests (which is scheduled and have done at least the day before your surgery) to screen for anything out of the ordinary.
Depending on procedural policies at your particular surgery center, you may receive a call from your anesthesiologist, the doctor who will deliver sedation for your surgery.
He or she will ask some routine questions in order to best meet your needs.
The scheduling staff, either from your Doctor's office, the surgery center, or both, as well as the nursing staff will all contact you.
Schedulers are determining insurance coverage, consent forms and, of course, scheduling; the nursing staff will further screen your basic health back ground, as well as initiate teaching.
You will need to know what to expect on arrival, during your procedure, and what you need after you get home.
2.
The Day of Surgery: You arrive, usually with someone who has driven you in for your procedure (You will NOT be driving home; do not ignore this directive).
You have not had anything to eat or drink; you check in with the front desk staff; there are more consents and privacy policies to sign, insurance cards to provide.
You may sit and wait a bit.
Next, you are invited back to the surgical unit.
Now it seems more real.
Usually there is an area to change into your backless gown, meaning you totally disrobe (some centers let you keep your underwear on, but not all do); you may get a locker to store your belongings.
At this time you may be asked to remove glasses, contact lenses, all pierced jewelry, etc.
This is as much for your protection as anything.
For example, sometimes an electrocautery device may be needed during your procedure to coagulate a bleeding vessel (sounds a lot more serious than it is); the current could be attracted to metal on your skin, leading to a burn.
At some centers you are allowed to keep dentures in place, hearing aids, glasses, etc.
, until or unless you need to remove them.
3.
Immediately Before Surgery Next you start your pre-operative care: a checklist to ensure you haven't eaten or drank, checking consents, possibly more consents, paper work blah blah blah.
You will be fitted for a post-op "shoe" which is a rigid-soled, velcro-tabbed support that will be your best friend for the next several weeks.
It is not attractive, but it does the job to protect you post-procedural foot.
You may also be fitted for crutches, depending on your particular circumstances.
Your foot will probably be scrubbed or painted with a betadine solution to kill germs (cold, wet, brown, but good for your foot).
You will be given a flimsy cap to cover your hair (to prevent infection).
So now you are looking pretty good; your foot is brown from the betadine, you are thirsty, you are wearing a stupid cap, no make-up, you hope no one is really noticing you (actually they're not, this is just another day).
Either a nurse or the anesthesiologist will place an intravenous line in your hand,, wrist, or the inner crook of your elbow; you may or may not have a little numbing agent prior.
It is uncomfortable but only for a moment.
There is no needle in your vein after this, just an extremely flexible, sterile plastic tube-let, as flexible as cooked spaghetti.
We are so fortunate in this day and age! Eventually, your surgeon shows up and greets you.
Things are happening more quickly; the flurry of check, re-checks, signing consents (the surgeon rechecks everything), and you now meet your operating room nurse, and darned if he/she doesn't go through another checklist.
You may be feeling frustrated by this point but you should feel good; these measures are in place to protect you.
(WHICH foot is it? Right; left?) It's kind of like the clerk at the department store who asks for additional ID; someone is watching out for you.
4.
Surgery Your bed on wheels takes you into the operating room; this is it.
You will be greeted by your OR scrub tech, or perhaps it is an RN, and perhaps you met them before surgery (if you didn't it's only because they were in surgery already and couldn't leave to introduce themselves).
Everyone in the room will be in gown, masks, and odd headwear, maybe like your head cover.
You will move onto the operating "table", which is hard, cold (fresh sheets!) and narrow (so surgeons can reach anywhere easily).
You will have electrodes attached to your torso and arm, a blood pressure cuff applied to your arm (hopefully the one without the IV), and usually a cold gel-based pad in case you have cautery to coagulate blood vessels.
Next, your anesthesiologist, who will be behind your head, will begin instructing you on what is coming next.
Next, you will either: Be completely inducted into general anesthesia, awakening after the procedure is finished, Be given local anesthesia, which means numbing medication is injected into your foot for the procedure, OR (Most likely) You will be given, through your IV, a short-acting sleep agent, and your surgeon injects the numbing medication while you are sedated.
When you wake up, the procedure will be underway and you won't feel any discomfort.
5.
After Surgery Once the surgery is finished you will be placed back on your guerney (the bed on wheels) and taken back to the PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit).
Your foot will be elevated, cold packs applied, fluids offered for you to drink.
There will be a lot of instructions both verbal and written for you and your caregiver to follow.
Your significant other hopefully will be by your side.
Your post-operative "shoe" will be applied, crutches if ordered, you will be asked to empty your bladder once, just to check, and your surgeon will stop by if there is time.
this usually happens within an hour.
Your instructions for your care at home are important as well.
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