When your child needs orthopedic surgery (1412)

Key points below

Your child is having bone or joint surgery. A doctor called an orthopedic surgeon will perform the surgery. This sheet will help you and your child get ready and know what to expect.

How is the surgery done?

There are two types of orthopedic surgery. Your surgeon will talk with you about which surgery your child will have.

Open surgery: This is done through one incision (cut), This is large enough for the surgeon to have a direct view of the area to be operated on.

Arthroscopic surgery: This is done through a few small incisions. A tube with a tiny camera and a light, called an arthroscope, is used. This helps the surgeon to have a clear view of the area that
needs surgery. The surgery is done through the other small incisions.

Helping your child prepare for surgery

Having surgery can be scary for children to think about. You can help your child by preparing them in advance. How you do this will depend on your child’s needs. Child Life Specialist at Children’s
Wisconsin can help with this.

Explain the surgery to your child in brief and simple terms. Young children have shorter attention spans, so do this shortly before the surgery. Older children can be given more time to
understand the surgery and come up with questions.
Point out the body part that will be operated on.
Tell your child that they will get medicine, so they do not remember the surgery. It will be like they are sleeping. Tell your child that they will not feel the surgery being done.
Use play when appropriate. Role play with your child’s favorite toy or object. It may help older children to see drawings of what will be done during surgery.
Help your child pick a small comfort item to bring to the hospital. This can be a toy, stuffed animal, blanket, or other comfort item. Your child will be able to keep the item until surgery begins.
Let your child ask questions.

Before the surgery

Most likely, someone will need to stay home with your child following surgery. Parents may need to plan on taking time off for surgery. We suggest you work with your employer to plan time off from
work. Your child’s surgery qualifies for Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Your surgeon and their team can complete the needed forms and submit to your employer.

You will be given instructions to help your child prepare for surgery. Carefully follow the instructions your child’s surgeon will be give you. Below are some common instructions for most surgeries.

Tell your child’s doctor what medicines your child takes. This includes over-the-counter medicines like ibuprofen, vitamins, herbs, and supplements. Your child may need to stop taking some of them before surgery.
Make sure your child’s stomach is empty the morning of surgery. You will get instructions about not eating and drinking before the surgery. Follow the instructions carefully. If your child
eats or drinks, the surgery may need to be cancelled.
A bowel preparation may need to be done to prevent constipation. Follow surgeon’s directions, if this is needed.

The day of surgery

You will receive a time to arrive to the hospital. Make sure to get to the hospital on time. You will need to fill out some forms.
Your child will be given a gown to wear.
An Anesthesiologist will meet with you and your child. They will talk about the medicines that will be given to your child for surgery. Be sure to ask any questions you have.
Many people will ask you to tell them which part of the body is being operated on. This is required and is for the safety of your child. The body part will also be marked with a marker.
Your child will be given an intravenous (IV) line. It is used to give your child fluids and medicine. Depending on your child’s age, the IV line may be put into the arm or hand. The IV
may be started after your child has the anesthesia if they are worried about the IV.

During the surgery

Your child will be given general anesthesia. This is medicine that keeps your child sleeping during surgery. It also keeps them from remembering the surgery.
A soft tube called a catheter may be put into your child’s bladder. This helps drain urine during and right after surgery. It will likely be removed shortly after surgery.
Drain lines may be put in to take blood and other body fluids away from the wound.

After surgery in the hospital

After surgery, your child will go to the recovery room. This is also called the post-anesthesia care unit or PACU. Monitors will be attached to your child. The monitors watch over your
child’s breathing, blood pressure, and pulse.
Your child will be given pain medicine as needed.
If a catheter was used to drain urine, it will likely be removed shortly after surgery. The IV line will stay in until your child’s pain is well controlled.
In some cases, the surgery is done as an outpatient. This means your child goes home the same day. Other times, your child needs to stay one or more days in the hospital.

After surgery at home

Give your child all medicines as instructed. Pain control after surgery is important to help with healing, so it is important to give pain medicines as scheduled for the first few days. Your child
will start to go longer before asking or acting like pain medicine is needed. Pain medicine may make it hard for your child to have a bowel movement (poop). This is called constipation. Medicines like Miralax are often used after surgery. This helps soften stool.
Schedule a follow-up visit with your surgeon or surgeon’s team as instructed.
Being active helps your child heal, but too much activity can delay the incision from healing. Be sure to follow activity restrictions as instructed.
You will learn about daily wound care that is needed before discharge. Try to keep your child’s incision clean and dry. If there is drainage, the dressing should be changed. Follow the
timeline for when your child is able to shower again.
Your child may return to school or work when they feel up to it. This depends on the surgery your child had as well as their own recovery. It may be helpful for your child to begin with half
days and then slowly work up to full days.

If your child has a cast or splint, call if your doctor if:

The part of the body with the cast tingles or feels numb.
The cast feels too tight or too loose.
You see a rash under the cast or splint.
Fingers or toes swell, feel cold, or turn blue or gray.
The cast or splint cracks or has rough edges that cause pain.
The cast gets wet.

This sheet was created to help you care for your child or family member. It does not take the place of medical care. Talk with your healthcare provider for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.

For other health and wellness information, check out this resource:

https://kidshealth.org/ChildrensWi/en/parents

ALERT

Call 414-604-7500 if you have any questions or concerns or if your child has:

A fever of 102 or higher.
A hard time pooping
Pain, redness, or swelling at the incision site.
Drainage from an incision that gets worse or changes color.
Bleeding from the incision.
Special health care needs that were not covered by this form.

Call your child’s doctor, nurse, or clinic if you have any questions or concerns or if your child has special health care needs that were not covered by this information.