You will most likely arrive at the hospital on the morning of the surgery. Be sure to follow all your healthcare provider's instructions on preparing for surgery:

• Follow any directions you are given for taking medicines and for not eating or drinking before surgery.

• At the hospital, your temperature, pulse, breathing, and blood pressure will be checked.

• An IV (intravenous) line will be started to give you fluids and medicines during surgery.

When the surgical team is ready, you’ll be taken to the operating room. There you’ll be given anesthesia to help you sleep through surgery. Or it may make you numb from the waist down. Then a cut is made on the front or side of your knee. Any damaged bone is cleaned away. The new joint parts are put into place. The cut is closed with surgical staples or stitches.

After surgery, you’ll be sent to the recovery room. When you are fully awake, you’ll be moved to your room. The nurses will give you medicines to ease your pain. You may have a catheter (small tube) in your bladder. A continuous passive motion machine may be used on your knee to keep it from getting stiff. A sequential compression machine may be used to prevent blood clots by gently squeezing then letting go of your lower leg. You may be given medicine to prevent blood clots. Soon, healthcare providers will help you get up and moving.

Once at home, call your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms:

• An increase in knee pain

• Pain or swelling in the calf or leg

• Unusual redness, heat, or drainage at the incision site

• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as directed by your healthcare provider

• Shaking chills

• Trouble breathing or chest pain (call 911)