Before Surgery
Attend Our Seminar
You are encouraged to attend our informal, informative seminar to learn more about your surgery, and so we may address any questions or concerns regarding your surgery. Please feel free to bring your family, caregivers, and friends.
Beverly Thomas, RN, presents educational seminars for our patients to provide information about the experience of going through minimally invasive knee replacement surgery and answer any questions that you may have. If you are scheduling surgery or simply interested in learning more about the techniques and procedures performed at the Center, find out more here.
Medical Evaluation
Each of our patients undergoes a thorough medical evaluation by a general practitioner or specialist (usually a cardiologist) on staff at Pennsylvania Hospital. This consultation is arranged by our team and typically takes place between 2 and 4 weeks prior to surgery. This serves the purpose of ensuring that you are healthy enough to undergo surgery, that the medical risks are minimized, and that you are given an opportunity to meet the physician who will be managing your medical care during your hospital stay (while Dr. Lonner's team manages your Orthopaedic care). Occasionally (for instance, when patients come from out of state or out of the country) the preoperative medical evaluation may be performed by your personal physician and the postoperative care will be assumed by a consulting medical physician while you are hospitalized. A preoperative consultation with the Anesthesiologist can be arranged to discuss more of the details of anesthesia.
Preadmission Testing
You will be scheduled for preadmission testing with one of our Nurse Practitioners two to four weeks prior to surgery. This will include a detailed medical history, physical examination, blood tests, urinalysis, chest x-ray and electrocardiogram. Please bring a current list of your medications and their dosages when you come for the appointment so that they are accurately recorded and continued during your hospitalization.
Visit the Dentist
Before surgery, you must visit your dentist to receive a thorough examination and to make sure that you don't have significant gum disease or an infection in your mouth that could potentially become a source of infection in your knee after surgery. The dentist may recommend postponing surgery until your dental hygiene is optimized and any infections treated. We require a letter from your dentist stating that you are cleared from a dental perspective for surgery.
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