Post-Surgery Instructions
ELBOW ARTHROSCOPY
Many diseases and injuries in the elbow joint are treated arthroscopically. A characteristic of all
arthroscopic procedures on the elbow is the minimum invasiveness of the surgery techniques used to
perform the planned surgery via an endoscope and modified instruments without any greater
trauma to the surrounding tissue. The course and speed of the postoperative rehabilitation depends
significantly on the type of procedure performed on the elbow, which the protocol of postoperative
rehabilitation is adjusted to. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or oral analgesia are usually
prescribed to relieve pain after the surgery; to decrease joint swelling, resting the arm is required
and several days of cooling the joint with ice or cold packs. The first day after surgery, it is possible
that the analgesics may cause a feeling of tiredness and nausea, which later gradually passes.
Post-surgery physical activity:
The scope of permitted physical activity after the surgery depends directly on the type of procedure
performed. For all types of procedure, it is generally recommended that the arm is rested during the
first days after the surgery. The elbow should be cooled with ice or cold packs several times a day.
For at least one week after the surgery, no operation of motor vehicles is allowed.
Care for the operation wound:
 Immediately after surgery, it is very important to take care of the wound, because this
decreases the risk of postoperative wound infection. Sticking plasters or bandages must be
clean and dry. The bandages are generally first redressed 1 to 2 days after the surgery.
Depending on the healing of the wound, the general practitioner then decides if/when the
next bandage redressing will be required. If the wound is dry and shows no signs of infection,
it is usually sufficient if the bandages are redressed after 5 to 7 days. Skin stitches are
removed 10 to 14 days after surgery, usually by a general practitioner.
 It is important that the wound does not come into contact with water. If the sticking plaster
or bandage gets wet or if blood seeps through it, the wound has to be redressed.
 No showering or any type of wetting the wound is allowed until all wounds are healed and
the stitches are removed.
Pain management:
 Repeated cooling of the joint after surgery with cold packs or ice decreases postoperative
swelling and pain.
 Resting the arm also helps decrease shoulder swelling.
 Take analgesics regularly, as prescribed. When taking analgesics, alcohol consumption is
prohibited.
Rehabilitation after the Elbow Arthroscopy:
Rehabilitation after arthroscopic procedures on the elbow joint is very important and in some cases
relatively long. For a good end result of the treatment, quality individual physical therapy following a
programme adapted for the surgery procedure performed and to the patient’s individual
particularities is key.
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If you also wish to carry out your postoperative rehabilitation at our institution, our physical
therapist, after consulting with the surgeon, will prepare and manage your individual rehabilitation
programme. The physical therapy programme includes various analgesic radiation and methods that
facilitate the faster healing of tissue, passive exercises and active exercises as well as manual
massage of the operated joint. During the programme, you will also learn to perform all the exercises
so you will be able, in certain stages of the rehabilitation, to significantly contribute to improving the
end result of the treatment.
IN THE CASE OF SERIOUS SWELLING, SEVERE PAIN, A DISTINCT REDNESS OF THE SKIN ON THE ELBOW
OR INCREASED BODY TEMPERATURE, CALL US IMMEDIATELY ON +386 1 518 7063, OR OUTSIDE
WORKING HOURS ON 00 386 40 799 622
WE WISH YOU A FAST RECOVERY!
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