28 days after

Your child should be getting close to his/her normal schedule and routine. 

• Child should be performing all his/her normal daily activities
  • Showering, getting dressed
  • Preparing snacks/meals
  • Light chores such as dusting areas that don’t require reaching/bending, loading/unloading top rack of dishwasher, folding clothes
  • Seeing friends
  • Going for walks

• Plan for your return to school:
  • Consider beginning with partial days. Increase time at school as tolerated over 2 weeks
  • Avoid heavy backpacks. Plan to go to locker between each class, only carry necessary supplies
  • Allow extra time for passing. Consider using an elevator and transition between classes either early or late to avoid crowded hallways.
  • If textbooks are used, have 2 sets – 1 to keep at home, and 1 to keep at school.
  • No Gym class when first return. At follow-up visits you can discuss restrictions for sports and gym class

• Do NOT drive until:
  • Off all pain medicine
  • Full arm, shoulder, neck and back motion
  • The Doctor says it is OK

• Continue with a healthy diet.
  • High fiber, high protein, iron-rich diet is often important
  • Drink more than 64 ounces water per day if average teenage/adult size
  • Some patients, especially girls, need a multivitamin with iron

• The scar will continue to heal for a year. It starts pink, and slowly fades to a color that is closer to his/her natural skin tone.
  • Protect the scar from sun. Use bandage, shirt, or high SPF sunscreen (30+) over scar when outdoors.
  • Some people like to use cocoa butter or scar creams. Wait until at least 6 weeks after surgery to use these products. 

• Dental precautions are necessary after surgery.
  • Avoid routine dental work for 2-3 months after surgery if possible.
  • We will prescribe an antibiotic to take 1hour before dental visits. This is done for several years. 

• Avoid tattoos and body piercings for at least 1 year after surgery. There is increased risk of infection due to the spine implants. 

• Tobacco and nicotine can prevent healing and cause the spine not to fuse.
  • Smoking is never recommend. This includes use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vaping, JUUL, and other products.
  • Avoid being around smokers whenever possible

• Sports and activity will be restricted following surgery
  • We do not recommend use of trampoline after spine fusion
  • Rollercoasters and water slides should be avoided until the fusion is solid; we will let you know when it is OK to do these activities.
  • We will discuss return to sports at the next Orthopedic appointment.