Preparing for Your Surgery with Dr. William Rossy
The weeks before, the day of, and the first days at home.
What should I arrange before surgery day?
Plan for a ride home and someone to stay with you right away.
Surgery changes how alert and steady you feel, so driving yourself home or being alone for the first day is not safe. Talk with your work or school ahead of time about time off, since recovery from most orthopedic procedures takes longer than a single day. It also helps to prepare your home in advance: clear walkways, put items you use daily within easy reach, and have simple meals ready.
What should I bring with me, and what should I stop taking before surgery?
Bring a current list of your medications, your insurance card, and a form of identification.
Leave jewelry, contact lenses, and other valuables at home. Your surgical team will confirm exactly which medications to pause and when, since some blood thinners and supplements need to stop days ahead of surgery while others should continue as usual. Do not stop or change any medication on your own before speaking with your surgical team.
Do I need to stop eating or drinking before surgery?
Yes, for most procedures.
Your surgical team will give you a specific cutoff time, commonly several hours before your arrival, because an empty stomach lowers the risk of complications with anesthesia, the medicine that keeps you comfortable and unaware during surgery. Follow the instructions your team gives you exactly, even if they differ from something you read elsewhere.
What happens on the day of surgery?
You will check in, change into a gown, and meet the members of your surgical team before being taken back for your procedure.
A nurse will confirm your identity and the planned procedure, review your medications, and place an IV. You will then speak briefly with your surgeon and the anesthesia team before moving to the operating room. If your surgery is a hip arthroscopy, a minimally invasive procedure that uses a small camera to examine and repair structures inside the hip joint, or a cartilage restoration procedure, which repairs or replaces damaged cartilage so a joint moves more comfortably, Dr. Rossy's team will walk you through the specific steps for that procedure before you go back.
What is normal to feel in the days after surgery?
Some swelling, stiffness, and fatigue are normal in the first few days after surgery.
Mild soreness at the incision site and limited range of motion are also expected, and these commonly ease over time, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (2024). Dr. Rossy completed fellowship training in sports medicine at Harvard-Massachusetts General Hospital, and that training shapes how his team sets your activity restrictions and recovery plan for hip, knee, and shoulder procedures. Your own timeline depends on the procedure performed, your health before surgery, and how closely you follow your recovery instructions.
What symptoms mean I should call my surgical team, and who do I call?
Call the office right away for a fever over 101 degrees Fahrenheit, redness, warmth, or drainage at the incision, calf pain or swelling, or chest pain and shortness of breath.
During office hours, call Princeton Orthopaedic Associates directly. After hours, use the on-call number your surgical team gives you at discharge. For chest pain, shortness of breath, or any symptom of a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room rather than waiting for a callback.
How do I schedule my surgery or ask a question beforehand?
Contact Princeton Orthopaedic Associates to schedule your procedure or to ask any question before your surgery date.
Your surgical team would rather answer a question twice than have you guess once, so call with anything not covered here or at your pre-surgical visit.
This information is educational and is not a substitute for the personal instructions your surgical team gives you.
Ready to talk about your hip, knee and shoulder?
Call the office or request an appointment. Accepting new patients.