**Please pre-register by calling Columbus Regional Hospital at (812) 375-3718.

Instructions to Follow Before Your Surgery

• Avoid aspirin and ibuprofen products for seven days prior to your scheduled surgery unless approved by your doctor.
• Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery.  You may take your medications with sips of water.
• The night before your surgery, wash the foot that will be having the surgery with Hibiclens soap.  (It can be purchased at any pharmacy).  Wash it again the morning of surgery.  Clean under toenails with a brush if possible.
• The hospital will contact you the day before surgery to review your instructions.  They will also confirm your time.  The time may change from the original time given to you due to last minute cancellations and additions to the surgery schedule.
• Upon arrival to the hospital, report to the 2nd floor to the Outpatient Surgery Area.  You will be registered in this area.  Take all of your insurance cards and a photo ID (driver’s license) with you.
• You may not drive home from the hospital after your procedure.  If you do not have anyone with you to drive you home from the hospital, your procedure will have to be rescheduled.
• Do not drive or operate heavy machinery for 24 hours after your procedure.
• Take any crutches/ surgical shoes/ fracture boots/ or walkers that your doctor instructed you to bring.

Instructions to Follow for After Your Surgery

• Take your pain medicine as prescribed.  If it makes you sick to your stomach, you may take ½ the dose prescribed with food, and then take the other ½ of the dose a half an hour later.
• Keep your foot elevated above the level of your heart for the first 48 hours.  Sitting in a lazy boy chair or lying on the couch with pillows propped under your foot is a good way to keep it elevated.
• Do not stand in one place for any extended period of time for the first 7 days.
• Apply an ice pack around the ankle of the foot that had surgery.  Apply the ice pack for 20 minutes, then take it off for 20 minutes.  Keep this sequence up for the first 24-48 hours.  If swelling/pain occurs after this time period, you may start the process again.
• Keep your dressing clean and dry.
• You need to make an appointment to see your doctor in the office the week following surgery.  The nurse who discharges you from the hospital will tell you the day to make the appointment on.
• Call the office immediately if any of the following symptoms occur:
  • Fever over 101 degrees.
  • Severe pain not relieved by your pain medication.
  • Excessive bleeding.  You may see a shadow of bloody drainage through the gauze of your dressing.  This is not abnormal.  If you see blood soaking the dressing, you need to contact your doctor immediately.
  • Numbness or tingling in your toes, or your toes feeling cold or looking blue tinged.
  • Dressings that have been accidently soiled or wet.
  • If the office is closed, you may reach the doctor on call by dialing (812) 379-4441.  This is the hospital operator.  They will page your doctor for you.