General Recovery Information

Home Health Care

Specific Discharge Instructions for ACDF

Specific Discharge Instructions for Lumbar Laminectomies and Discectomies

Specific Discharge Instructions for Lumbar Fusion Surgery

Specific Discharge Instructions for Vertebroplasty/Kyphoplasty


General Recovery Information

  • You will have a surgical dressing over your incision. This will be removed several days after your surgery.

  • You may have stitches that will either dissolve as you heal or will need to be removed usually 2 – 3 weeks after surgery.

  • You may have staples that will need to be removed usually 2 – 3 weeks after surgery.

  • Your doctor will let you know how to keep the incision clean. As a rule, keep incisions dry. Avoid tub baths, swimming and the Jacuzzi until the physician grants permission. Some incisions are held closed with Steri-Strips (small pieces of paper tape made to peel and fall off as the incision heals). It may take 2 – 3 weeks for all the strips to fall off.

  • A variety of pain relief options are available to you immediately following surgery: medication by mouth (oral), intravenous drugs (IV), or a PCA Pump system (patient controlled / self dose pain relieving machine).

  • You will be given a prescription for (oral) pain medication upon discharge from the hospital.

  • You will be expected to spend brief periods walking – usually with staff assistance – not long after your operation is complete. You must be ambulatory (able to walk with little or no assistance) prior to being discharged from the hospital.

  • The lifestyle changes you made to prepare yourself for surgery (diet, exercise, smoking cessation, etc.) will continue to be important after you leave the hospital.

  • You should expect pain in the area of the incision. Pain will subside as healing progresses.

  • Call your surgeon immediately if you experience unusual incisional pain, swelling, redness, discharge, numbness, fever and/or chills.

  • You may notice some itching near your surgical wound – this is normal. This may be a sign of healing or a reaction to the Steri-Strips or other tapes that have been used. It is best to avoid scratching the wound.

  • Look at your incision on a daily basis. It is normal to have some fullness in your incision after spine surgery. This is a result of swelling or hematoma. A hematoma is an accumulation of blood that has occurred during and after your incision was closed. Your body should absorb this fluid with no additional concern. If the hematoma has not begun to resolve after several days, your surgeon may remove the fluid by aspirating the wound.

  • You can take a shower usually 4 – 5 days after your surgery. Normally baths are discouraged for the first couple of weeks due to the difficulty of getting in and out of a bathtub, as well as avoiding soaking the incision in bath water.

Home Health Care

Post-operative precautions and wearing a back brace can make activities of daily living difficult after surgery. Your doctor may prescribe a Home Health Care agency to assist you in performing the tasks of bathing, dressing, toileting, cooking, or light chores. Assistive equipment may be included in you treatment. This will depend on your ability to transfer out of bed and your mobility.

Examples of Assistive Equipment:

  • Raised toilet seat

  • Toilet rails

  • Bath chair

  • Wheel chair

  • Cane (single, tri-pod)

  • Walker

  • Hospital bed

Specific Discharge Instructions for ACDF

  1. You will be given a hard cervical collar and a soft cervical collar for use post-operatively. You must wear the hard cervical collar whenever you are a passenger in a car or walking around inside or outside your home. The soft cervical collar is to be worn when sleeping, sitting, or lying down. Either the hard or soft cervical collar must be worn at all times until seen in the office for the first post-operative visit.

  2. The collar may be removed for showering. You may shower as normal once the large, bulky bandages are removed from the incision. Hair washing is permissible. Make sure you dry the incision site thoroughly following your shower.

  3. Check your incision site twice daily for signs and symptoms of infection. Call your surgeon immediately if symptoms of infection appear.

  4. You may sleep in any position as long as your collar is securely in place. Many patients find comfort sleeping in a recliner chair or sitting up in bed.

  5. It is normal to have a sore throat and some difficulty swallowing solid foods.

  6. Do not take any anti-inflammatory medication (Advil, Aleve, Motrin) for the first six weeks following surgery. You may either take pain medication or use regular or extra-strength Tylenol.

  7. Do not lift anything weighing greater than 10 – 15 pounds. Avoid lifting or reaching above your head.

  8. Staples or sutures in your incision may be removed 2 weeks following your surgery.

  9. You may not drive a car until told by your physician.

  10. Make your follow-up appointment with your surgeon for 2 weeks following your surgery date.

Specific Discharge Instructions for Lumbar Laminectomies and Discectomies

  1. Check the incision twice daily for signs/symptoms of infection, green/yellow discharge, foul odor, redness, and swelling, as well as flu-like symptoms and temperature above 101.5 degrees. Call your surgeon immediately if problems or symptoms develop in this area.

  2. Bandages should be removed before the patient is discharged from hospital. If not, you may remove your bandages 24 – 36 hours after surgery.

  3. You may shower once the bandages are removed. Avoid bath tubs, swimming pools and Jacuzzis. Sutures/staples will be removed 2 – 3 weeks after surgery.

  4. No driving permitted for 2 – 3 weeks.

  5. Limit your sitting to 20 – 30 minute intervals. There are no limitations for sitting in a recliner chair.

  6. Walk as much as possible.

  7. Do not lift anything greater than 10 – 15 pounds.

Specific Discharge Instructions for Lumbar Fusion Surgery (Anterior, Posterior, AP)

  1. Check incision twice a day for the following: Green/yellow discharge, increased redness, tenderness at incision site, opening of the incision, flu-like symptoms and/or temperature above 101.5 degrees. Call your surgeon immediately if any of these symptoms appear.

  2. Your bandages should be removed 24 – 36 hours after surgery

  3. You may shower after the bandages are removed. It is recommended that a shower chair be used for the first few weeks to ensure your safety.

  4. The incisions should be cleaned gently using regular soap and water. Rub gently. Make sure incision site is thoroughly dried after cleaning.

  5. If given a brace to wear postoperatively, it should be worn whenever you are up and out of bed. It should not be worn at night while sleeping.

  6. You should not drive until seen in the office for your first postoperative visit. You may be a passenger for short distances (30 minutes). If you must travel for a longer period, take several pit stops to stretch your legs.

  7. Do not sit for periods longer than 20 – 30 minutes.

  8. Do not lift anything greater than 10 pounds. Do not bend or twist at the waist.

  9. Do walk as much as possible. No running.

Specific Discharge Instructions for Vertebroplasty/Kyphoplasty

  1. You will have small bandages on your incision. These can be removed within 24 hours.

  2. You will have no stitches or staples to remove.

  3. Do not soak in a bath tub or shower for 24 hours.

  4. Do not do any heavy lifting for 3 months.

  5. Walking is encouraged.

  6. Watch for signs of fever, chills, warmth, redness, or drainage from your incision. Call your surgeon immediately if any of these symptoms appear.