Your Knee

Preparing for Your Surgery
Once you and your orthopaedic surgeon have decided to proceed with knee replacement surgery, there are several activities that must occur to help make sure all goes well.

First you will have your initial surgical consultation, which will include preoperative X-rays, a complete medical history, a complete surgical history and a complete list of all medications and allergies. This consultation will also include orthopaedic examination and discussion of the knee replacement procedure.

Next you will have a complete physical examination. Your internist or family physician will determine if you are in the best possible condition to undergo knee surgery.

You may wish to donate blood prior to your knee replacement in the event that a transfusion is required after surgery.

Your doctor may recommend that you see a physical therapist before surgery to learn exercises to begin prior to surgery. You will also get an overview of the rehabilitation process post–surgery. This will prepare you better for your post-operative care.