Preparing for your operation
Once a date for your surgery has been set, the office will send you a surgery information pack. This usually includes your expected length of stay in hospital, an estimate of costs, your anaesthetist's details and a consent form to complete and return. A pack may not be issued if you are admitted directly to hospital or your procedure is an emergency.
Please complete and return any health and admission forms as early as you can, and tell the office about allergies, blood-thinning medication and any other medical conditions or specialists involved in your care.
The Surgery FAQs page answers the questions patients ask most often about booking, fees, what to bring, what to wear and what happens on the day. If you are travelling to Brisbane for your surgery, the accommodation page lists options close to the hospital.
If you are having a joint replacement
Patients having a shoulder replacement are asked to use three skin and nose preparations in the days before surgery to reduce the risk of infection: mupirocin nasal ointment, benzoyl peroxide 5% and chlorhexidine body wipes. Instructions for each are set out in the Surgery FAQs, and your pack will confirm what to buy and when to start.
A routine appointment with a physician is also recommended before a total shoulder replacement, to confirm that you are fit for surgery and anaesthesia. A referral is provided when you book.
After your operation
You will be given a post-operative folder before you leave hospital. It contains your follow-up appointment details, your precautions and instructions for looking after your dressings. Dr Cutbush also records a video of your procedure, which is emailed to you as a link after surgery.
A physiotherapist will see you on the ward on the first day after surgery to fit your sling and start you on your exercise programme. Arrange your follow-up physiotherapy appointments after discharge, and give your physiotherapist's details to reception so your progress can be followed.
Guidance on dressings, showering, sleeping, driving and returning to normal activity is set out in the Surgery FAQs, and the rehabilitation page explains what recovery involves for each procedure.
Instructional videos
Short videos demonstrate how to put on your sling, how to dress with your arm in a sling, how to shower after surgery, correct posture and how to perform your exercises safely. These are available on the videos page.
Please follow the programme your physiotherapist has given you. Many exercises are not suitable immediately after surgery, and starting more advanced exercises too early can put your repair at risk.
Understanding blood clots
Blood clots are uncommon after shoulder surgery, but it is worth knowing the signs and the measures used to reduce the risk. Understanding blood clots (PDF) explains deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in plain language.
Other useful pages
Need something else?
If you cannot find the form, instruction sheet or information you are looking for, please contact the office on (07) 3063 5500 or email admin@kennethcutbush.com, and we will send it to you.
