Wound Care

You will receive specific wound care instructions for your surgery, but the following are general guidelines:

IMPORTANT: If excessive bleed through is evident on any post surgery wound, please contact the office immediately at 530-891-6375.

Hand Surgery:

• Do not remove any dressing or splinting material.
• For small cyst surgery, you may remove dressing after 72 hours, keeping the sutures covered with a band aid.
• Keep dressing dry and as clean as possible
• A small plastic trash bag secured with a rubber band is good for showers or a bath
• NO swimming

Knee & Total Hip Replacement:

• Avoid getting the wound wet until it has thoroughly sealed and dried.
• An Ace bandage may be placed over the wound to prevent irritation from clothing or support stockings.
• Dressing should remain on until the first post operative visit 10 to 14 days after surgery.

Shoulder Arthroscopy:

• You may remove the bandage in 3 days and apply band aids to the wound(s) covering any sutures.
• If your wound is covered with steri-strips (thin white tapes across incision), please do not remove them.
• Keep wound clean and dry
• You may shower in 3 days
• Do not bathe or swim until the sutures are removed
• Sutures will be removed at your first post-op visit (usually 7-10 days)

Knee Arthroscopy:

• You may remove the bandage in 2 days and apply band aids to the wound(s) covering any sutures.
• Keep wound clean and dry
• You may shower in 2 days
• Do not bathe or swim until the sutures are removed.
• Sutures will be removed at your first post-op visit (usually 7 – 10 days)