At the National Sports Medicine Institute, we want to make sure you have a positive experience before, during and after your surgery. In order to optimize the safety and outcome of your surgical procedure, our surgical coordinator will provide you with preoperative instructions specific to your procedure and the location for your surgery. If you misplace this information, please contact our surgical coordinator.
For your convenience, we have provided information and answers to our most frequently asked questions regarding surgery preparation below.
Preoperative Clearance
You may be sent for a preop clearance, or preop labs. Please do not wait until the last minute to make this appointment. If you have questions, please ask/contact our surgical coordinator.
Surgery Center
Once your surgery has been scheduled, you will receive a brochure for that surgery center with instructions for the days leading up to surgery and what to expect from your experience. If you misplace this information, please contact our surgical coordinator for another copy.
Surgery times are determined by the surgery center and are not determined until the business day prior to the scheduled procedure. Many factors are included when scheduling surgery times. Please allow for flexibility on the day of surgery and avoid scheduling other conflicting appointments. The surgery center will call you with your arrival time after 4:00pm, the business day before your surgery is scheduled.
The surgery center will contact you to perform a preoperative screening. It is very important to respond when they call, if they cannot contact you, your surgery will be cancelled.
Point of Rocks Surgery Center
Phone: 301.874.2211
INOVA Loudoun Ambulatory Surgery Center
Phone: 571.209.6465
INOVA Loudoun Hospital
Phone: 703.858.6490
StoneSprings Hospital Center
Phone: 571.349.4000
Current Medications
You should continue taking your routine prescribed medications prior to surgery. All Aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications such as Advil, Motrin, Naprosyn, and Aleve, should be stopped one week prior to surgery unless you specifically discussed continuing them with your surgeon.
If you are taking medications for weight loss: Unless being taken to control diabetes or other metabolic syndromes, please stop taking these medications 7 days prior to the procedure.
If you are on Coumadin therapy: Check with your prescribing doctor regarding when you should discontinue and restart using the Coumadin. Blood testing may be required by this physician before and after the date of surgery.
If you are a Diabetic: Discuss with the nursing staff at the hospital or outpatient surgery facility the anesthesiologist’s recommendation regarding using your insulin or taking your medication the morning of surgery. It is usually recommended to bring a snack with you to eat post-operatively after your insulin or diabetes medication is administered.
Supplements: All herbal and over-the-counter supplements should be stopped one week prior to surgery and may be resumed after your first post-operative appointment.
A Few Days Before Surgery
Patients should purchase a small (8oz) bottle of Chlorhexidine wash (aka Hibiclens soap) from their local drug store/pharmacy (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Target, etc.) You will use this wash on the day of surgery prior to arriving at the surgery center. DO NOT shave the surgical site for two to three days prior to surgery as this might increase the possibility of an infection.
The Day Before Surgery
DO NOT eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery is scheduled unless you have been specifically instructed otherwise by the nursing staff in the facility where you are scheduled. This includes gum, candy, ice, etc. They will discuss with you, which medications you may take with a sip of water, if any, the morning of your surgery. You must understand that it is very dangerous to be sedated or put under general anesthesia with food or liquid in your stomach.
DO NOT drink any beer, wine, or alcoholic beverages during the 24 hours before surgery. Alcohol increases the depth of anesthesia and the effect of the medications administered.
***Please remove any nail polish/gel/shellac from feet and hands***
The Day of Surgery
Take a bath or shower with the Chlorhexidine wash. DO NOT shave the surgical site. Dress in loose, comfortable clothes that will be easy to change out of and into after surgery. Make sure that any potential bulky bandages or cast/splint will fit through the openings.
DO NOT wear contact lenses but bring reading glasses if you need them to complete any paperwork before surgery. Remove any hairpins, clips, or combs.
DO NOT wear any jewelry or bring anything valuable with you to the facility.
What to Bring to Surgery
All patients
- Comfortable and sturdy athletic shoes
- Loose, comfortable clothes (they may become stained, so make sure they are not your favorites)
- Any icing device (cold pack, Kodiak cold therapy machine, etc.) that you have used and liked
- Summaries of any physical therapy or training programs that you have followed for this condition
- Insurance card/Workman’s Comp information
- Check with your individual doctor about specific instructions regarding your surgery preparation
Knee, hip, foot/ankle patients
- Crutches
- Knee brace (if one has been provided)
- Athletic/comfortable shorts, tennis shoes, track suit or sweatpants in the winter
Shoulder, elbow, hand/wrist patients
- Loose fitting, button-up shirt
- Sling/shoulder immobilizer (if you were already provided one)
Rescheduling Surgery
Please read these common reasons your surgery may need to be rescheduled.
- If you experience any signs or symptoms of an infection or have a known infection, please call the surgeon’s office immediately.
- If you develop a cold, persistent cough, fever, flu symptoms, or if there is a significant change in the condition for which your surgery is scheduled, please call the surgeon’s office immediately.
- Prior to your surgery if you develop a rash, burn, insect bite, or a break in the skin regardless of the size, near the area of your surgery, please notify our office to be evaluated.
- If you need to cancel your planned surgery and the office has already closed for the day, leave a message with the answering service, and it will be relayed to the surgeon. If necessary, your call will be returned. If you have any questions, please our office at 703.729.5010.
Billing
To help you understand the billing process: You will be receiving three separate bills. One from the surgeon (NSMI), one from the surgery center, and one from the anesthesiologist.
Air Travel After Surgery
It is recommended you do not travel by air until day 4 post-op, due to risk of blood clots. If your circumstances necessitate you to travel by air earlier than day 4 post-op, please discuss this with your surgical team several weeks prior to surgery.
Driving
Please coordinate a ride to and from the surgery center and to the pharmacy for the day of your surgery. You will be unable to drive while on narcotic pain medications. You may drive when you have discontinued taking narcotic medication and have been cleared by your provider. For lower body surgery, clearance typically does not occur until a patient is full weight bearing through the right foot if that is the side of the operation. For upper body surgery, clearance typically does not occur until it is safe to perform activities out of the sling/shoulder support. Specific restrictions for each surgical procedure differ, please contact our office with any questions you may have.
Family Medical Leave and Short-Term Disability
If you have discussed with your employer taking leave for the recovery from surgery, please submit all forms, a copy of your job descriptions, length of time requesting off and any accommodations that you are requesting to the athletic trainer assisting with your care prior to the start of your leave. There is a fee associated with the completion of these forms. If you have any questions, please call our office at 703.729.5010.
Braces and Physical Therapy
Depending on your surgery, you may require a brace. This will be provided at the surgery center the day of surgery. You may also require physical therapy; please make sure this appointment is set up prior to surgery to ensure that the facility of your choosing has an appointment available.
Cold Therapy Machine
You will receive information on Kodiak Polar Care Therapy. We no longer offer ice machine rentals. If you choose to purchase, please call our surgical coordinator at least 48 hours prior to surgery to pay for the machine and the surgeon will bring it to the surgery center for you.
Emergency Information
Our clinics will always have a provider on call in case of afterhours emergencies. If you need to contact a provider when the clinic is closed, call the regular clinic number at 703.729.5010 and our answering service will notify the provider on call to contact you.