Medication and Hygiene

If you routinely take medications, our team will instruct you which to take and which to discontinue the morning of your surgery. You may take any approved medications with a sip of water.

You will be instructed to wash using a special surgical soap called Hibiclens the night before and morning prior to your surgery. Use regular soap first and thoroughly wash. Then again wash your entire body from neck down with Hibiclens paying special attention to the area around your hip or knee. Do not scrub. Allow the Hibiclens to remain on your skin for 5 minutes before rinsing.

What To Bring

• Current list of medicines (name, dosages, frequency)
• Insurance information
• Living Will or advanced directives
• Comfortable clothing, such as a workout outfit or tee shirt and shorts
• Shoes with a rubber soul and a closed heel
• Personal toiletry items
• Leave all jewelry and other valuables at home

Where To Go

Your surgery will take place at Holy Cross Health, 4725 N Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale. Enter at the Main Entrance which is on the east side of the building facing Federal Highway. The Main Entrance is next to the Chapel and Cancer Center. Dr. Leone’s team will give you an arrival time. Please arrive early!

You will complete the Registration process on the first floor and then you will be escorted to the preoperative holding area on the third floor.

Preoperative Holding Area

In the preoperative holding area, you will be asked to remove contact lenses and glasses and put on a surgical gown. If you wear dentures or use a hearing aid, we suggest that these be removed. An IV will be started and you will receive fluids, antibiotics as well as a number of other medicines which minimize postoperative pain and make you more relaxed and comfortable. A member of our healthcare team will make sure all consent forms are signed.

Dr. Leone will personally visit with you just prior to surgery. He will ask you to confirm which hip or knee he will be operating on. He will then initial that hip or knee with a special marking pen and write the word “yes” on you hip or knee. Your anesthesiologist will also meet with you to review your record and examine you. Together you will discuss and agree to an appropriate anesthetic plan. If you are accompanied by family member or a significant other, then if you wish, they are welcome to be present and part of that discussion. A member of our Spiritual Care team will also be available to see you if you would like.

You will experience many checks and re-checks to confirm all important information is correct. This consistent attention to detail makes the entire procedure safer for you.

The Surgical Waiting Room

Once you are transferred to surgery, family members, caregivers, and/or special friends will be escorted to the Surgical Waiting Room. During surgery and post-surgical recovery, every effort will be made to reassure and communicate with these individuals and let them know when they can expect Dr. Leone to visit.

Once the surgery has been completed, Dr. Leone will come to the Surgical Waiting Room and speak to any family members, caregivers or friends. When you are ready to be transferred to your hospital room, guests can accompany you. If someone important is not able to be at the hospital, Dr. Leone will be happy to call them after the surgery and report on your surgery and care.

Cell phone use is permitted in the Surgical Waiting Room, and there is free wireless internet access. The Surgical Waiting Room has a television and vending machines. On the first floor are both the hospital cafeteria and Heart Healthy Café, serving meals, snacks and refreshments. Additional outdoor seating can be found in the Mercy Courtyard.

In the Surgical Suite

You are wheeled from the preoperative holding room to the surgical suite where you will receive either regional (spinal) or general anesthesia. You will be comfortable and unable to recall the surgery from this point on.

All surgery is performed by Dr. Leone. The surgery is not delegated to anyone else. At the conclusion of your surgery, Dr. Leone injects a combination of different medicines into tissues around your new hip or knee which further decrease postoperative pain. Your tissues are irrigated with a solution containing different antibiotics and betadine which further decreases the risk of an infection.

Your incision is meticulously closed with a running suture (as opposed to conventional staples). In our experience this suturing technique provides a superior seal and extra protection against infection. It is performed like plastic surgery, using a single stitch. Some studies have reported a decrease infection rate with this technique. We apply a sterile surgical dressing that has antiseptic properties and allows the incision to breathe.

Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU):

After your surgery, you will awaken in our PACU. Your nurse will monitor your vital signs, give you IV fluid and other medicine and make sure you are stable and comfortable. An ice bag or special cuff with circulating ice cold water is also placed against your surgical dressing which helps decrease swelling, bleeding and pain. You will then be transferred to our specialty orthopedic unit on the fourth floor where any family and/or friends may join you.