This is an important first video for you to watch.  Although your surgery is advanced and allows you to function and walk after the procedure, it is very important to understand that human physiology hasn’t changed in 10,000 years.  We still heal the same way.  Skin takes an average of 2 weeks to heal, and bone takes 6-8 weeks to fuse.  So it is important to respect the rules of healing and allow your body the time to heal without irritation.

One factor that can create unwanted inflammation and result in pain and possible damage to your surgical result is not walking correctly with the Post Op Shoe.  The shoe is designed with a CAM bottom.  This allows for you to walk without having to push off the toes.  I want you to make sure that during the period you are wearing your post op shoe, you keep the weight of your body on the heel and not to allow the forefoot to have any significant weigh bearing.

The patient in the above video shows us how you walk without putting your weight on the forefoot.  This short gait style takes a little getting used to, but it will make your surgical experience that much easier and ultimately result in a well healed foot with no complications.

Key Points:

1. Keep the weight on the heel at all times
2. Always wear your surgical shoe if the foot is going to bear weight
3. Never walk or bear weight WITHOUT the surgical shoe
4. Make sure the shoe is fastened tight and correctly
5. Keep the shoe clean and out of the rain

So you’ve had your surgery and it’s time for your first shower!  What now?  That’s what this video is for.  Please make sure to read the instructions written below as well as watch the video to have a firm understanding of the concepts that are important to help you keep your foot dry, and prevent infection during your post operative experience.

Human skin takes an average of 2 weeks to heal.  This number varies in different parts of the body and regions as well.  The foot is at a disadvantage because it is in a gravity dependent position and also has less blood flow due to it’s distance from the central vascular system.  This results in a 2, sometimes 3 week window of time for this region to heal.  That is why we have to keep the skin of the foot dry while it heals.  To help you with this task and increase your chances of success in keeping your foot completely dry during the post op period, you have been given a Dry Sock Shower Boot.

The Dry Sock is a plastic sock fitted with a one way valve.  This valve allows for the user to pump the air out of the sock so they can create a sealed, airtight water proof sock around the surgical site and keep it dry.  Although this is an advanced device, it is important that yo understand that like any device, it can fail.  So despite the appearance of a sealed fit, I still recommend to patients that they keep the foot away from direct water so that there is literally no chance of getting your foot wet.

As always, if you run into any trouble at all, call me directly immediately to tell you what to do next.  If your call is during business hours, call the office.  If your call is after hours, call me on my mobile number which is on the Emergency Post Op Card you were given during your Pre Op visit.

Pay particular attention to the key points since they will also help you have a dry, successful post surgical experience without infection!

Key Points:

1. Make sure the seal point of the sock is in direct contact with skin and no hair is present (yes that means men need to shave that part).
2. Make sure when you are putting the sock on that there is no disruption of your dressings.
3. Always use a sock to cover the dressings first to catch any condensation.
4. Make sure there is a tight seal and that all the air is out of the sock before going to the shower.
5. Use a stool, and a removable shower head to make the experience easier.
6. Even though the sock is tight, do not let water directly hit the foot or the sock.
7. When you take the sock off, examine the region for any water and if it appears that water got onto your dressings, call the office immediately.

If you have any questions about the instructions, please email me directly at: ali@beverlyhillsfootsurgery.com

Accidents happen… this is a fact of life.  But it’s very important that you make sure to take all the precautions for a smooth and easy post operative experience.  You are a team member in your surgical care, although we have had a pleasure of providing you with cutting edge procedures that reduce your post operative recovery time, it is still very important that you play an active role in your care and do what it takes to protect your foot from water and trauma.

Attention!

But it is also important to be know how to respond to a problem if something were to go wrong.  If you get your foot wet by accident, the first thing you need to do is contact me immediately.  This is very important so that I can review some of the goals of the immediate dressing change before you continue with this step.  Once again… DO NOT CONTINUE without having called me first.  During business hours call the office line, and after hours call my mobile number that is on the Emergency Post Op Card you were given on your Pre Op visit.

If your dressing did get wet, the goal is to assess how much of it got soaked through.  I will guide you through this process on the phone.  If we determined that the dressings did not get saturated, then we will use the blow dryer to dry out the dressing.  If however the dressing is completely wet or destroyed, then you will proceed to the changing section of the video below.  Once again, I will determine which steps you need to perform after speaking with you.

If you are watching this video and have talked to me about changing your dressing, you must know that it is important for you to get to the office tomorrow so that I can change your dressing to a better fitting splint type and have the opportunity to assess the incision and the surgical site.  This will insure that the accident did not damage your procedure as well as allow us to intervene early if there is an increased risk for infection.

Key Points

1. Make sure when using the blow dryer to keep a fair distance from the skin to prevent a burn.
2. Do not apply the compressive Red Coban too tight that you block off the circulation.  You should not have severe pain with the coban.  If you do it is too tight or your foot is swelling.
3. If the dressing is going to be changed, try to use gloves to keep everything clean.  These are available at any pharmacy and are available in Non-Latex if you are allergic.
4. When removing the dressings pay close attention to them and stop when you get to a dry layer.
5. If you are removing the entire dressing make sure to prevent damage or excess moving at the surgical site.
6. DO NOT pull the incision margins apart.
7. When removing the Steri Strips, make sure to remove them PERPENDICULAR to the incision.  That means remove them in a way that the incision does not split open.

If you have any questions about the instructions, please email me directly at: ali@beverlyhillsfootsurgery.com

Instructional Video Coming Soon!