Your appointment with Professor Rodda
If you decide to proceed with joint replacement surgery after your consultation with Professor Rodda, there are a number of things that will be arranged for you on the day.
Firstly, patients will be given a date for their procedure. This is typically between six and twelve weeks after their appointment, but may be sooner in urgent cases and may be longer if it is more convenient for patients.
The team will then give you referrals and appointments for the various important tasks that must be completed prior to surgery. The list of requirements is extensive, but preparation is key to successful surgery, and all of these things must be completed.
Further imaging
Professor Rodda's team will give you referrals for all the imaging that you require. This will nearly always include a preoperative CT scan, which allows for the detailed 3D planning required to optimise the technical components of your procedure. Sometimes further X-rays will be required.
Any imaging required can be obtained conveniently at Sunshine Coast Radiology at Maroochydore Private Hospital, where Professor Rodda consults and operates.
Pre-admission clinic and physician appointment
Many patients have medical issues and medications that need to be optimised around the time of surgery. This will require an appointment at the hospital pre-admission clinic.
During this appointment, patients will be seen by a highly skilled nurse in the pre-admission clinic, and they will then see Dr Somesh Attoti, who specialises in perioperative medicine.
Dr Attoti will also see patients on the ward after their procedure is completed. He will help manage pain relief and any medical issues that may arise. Surgery is a team sport, and Professor Rodda has hand-chosen the team around him to help look after you.
Chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart or lung disease are common in patients undergoing joint replacement. Ensuring these are well controlled before surgery reduces the risk of complications. Your GP and any treating specialists may adjust your medications in the lead-up to the operation.
- Diabetes: blood sugar levels should be stable and within a target range; your treating doctor will advise on medication adjustments around the day of surgery.
- Blood pressure: should be well controlled; some medications are paused on the morning of surgery and your anaesthetist will advise.
- Smoking: stopping smoking, even for a few weeks before surgery, reduces the risk of wound healing problems and chest complications.
- Weight: for some patients, weight loss before surgery reduces anaesthetic risk and improves implant longevity; this is discussed individually rather than as a blanket rule.
Preoperative physiotherapy
The goal of preoperative physiotherapy is to best prepare patients for the recovery phase of their journey. This will include education and assistance with using crutches, how to use ice machines, and, of course, which exercises are best at various phases of the post-operative recovery.
Patients generally need at least one to two preoperative physiotherapy appointments, which are generally organised at Fortius Allied Health, which has multiple convenient locations around the Sunshine Coast.
For patients who already have a physiotherapist, we encourage them to continue seeing their own physiotherapist, as continuity of care is of the utmost importance. In this case, you will still see one of Professor Rodda's physiotherapists pre-operatively, who will then communicate with your own physiotherapist to make sure that everyone is on the same page about Professor Rodda's protocols.
Joint school education seminar
Joint School is a group-based education seminar aimed at further preparing and educating patients on all the various issues that are relevant before, during and after joint replacement surgery.
This is another opportunity for patients to ask questions and is an extremely important component of pre-operative preparation. This is compulsory for all patients, except in the case of regional and interstate patients, who will receive the information via a video link.
Some of the practical issues that will be discussed at joint school include:
- Arrange transport home from hospital; you will not be able to drive yourself.
- Ensure essential items at home are within easy reach and do not require bending or reaching.
- Remove trip hazards such as loose rugs or electrical cords from walkways.
- Consider installing a raised toilet seat and a shower chair if these are not already in place.
- Prepare and freeze meals in advance, or arrange for meals to be provided.
- Arrange for a family member or friend to stay with you for the first few days if possible.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing on the day of surgery that will fit over a bandage.
Preoperative nurse practitioner telehealth
Prior to your surgery, you'll have multiple appointments via telehealth. Kristie has many years of experience in orthopaedics and will help prepare you for your upcoming surgery. She will make sure that you've completed all the required tasks and will answer any questions that you may have. Kristie will be there for you both before your surgery and when you are discharged. Knowing that there is someone to talk to before and after surgery can help alleviate the anxiety commonly associated with orthopaedic surgery.
Preoperative checklist
The following checklist brings together the key steps to complete before your surgery date. Use it as a quick reference to ensure nothing is missed in the lead-up to your operation.
Total hip and knee replacement
Pre-Surgery Checklist
Prepare · Recover · Get back to what you love
- Confirm your surgery date and admission time with the hospital.
- Complete all requested pre-admission tests and investigations.
- Attend your preoperative physician appointment and follow any medication advice given.
- Continue your prehabilitation exercises as guided by your physiotherapist.
- Attend the joint school education seminar at your hospital.
- Complete your preoperative nurse practitioner telehealth consultation.
- Arrange transport home from hospital; you will not be able to drive yourself.
- Prepare your home: remove trip hazards, raise your toilet seat if needed, and set up a shower chair.
- Prepare and freeze meals in advance, or arrange for meals to be provided.
- Arrange for a family member or friend to stay with you for the first few days if possible.
- Confirm which medications to stop or adjust, and when, with your surgeon or GP.
- Follow fasting instructions provided by the hospital for the night before surgery.
- Shower with the prescribed antiseptic wash if instructed.
- Pack a bag with comfortable loose clothing, toiletries, and any required documentation.
You've got this
Questions to ask
- What can I do in the weeks before surgery to improve my recovery?
- Which of my medications need to be stopped or adjusted, and when?
- What pre-admission tests will I need, and where will they be done?
- What should I arrange at home before I come into hospital?
Common questions
How long before surgery does preparation begin?
Most preparation takes place in the two to six weeks before the operation. Once a date is agreed, the pre-admission process begins. Some patients benefit from a longer period of prehabilitation, particularly if fitness or weight optimisation is a goal, and this may extend the timeline.
Do I need to see my GP before surgery?
Yes, in most cases. Your GP plays a central role in the preoperative period: adjusting medications, organising blood tests or other investigations, and providing a summary of your medical history for the anaesthetist. If you have not seen your GP recently, an appointment shortly after your surgical consultation is advisable.
Should I exercise before surgery?
Yes. Staying as active as your hip or knee allows maintains muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness, both of which support recovery after surgery. A physiotherapist can guide a tailored prehabilitation programme. Even gentle activity such as swimming or stationary cycling is beneficial.
What should I stop taking before surgery?
Certain medications and supplements need to be stopped or adjusted before surgery, including some blood thinners, anti-inflammatory medications, and herbal supplements. Do not stop any prescribed medication without first discussing it with your surgeon, GP, or anaesthetist. A clear list will be provided during your pre-admission process.
Will I need to do anything special the night before?
You will be given fasting instructions, usually nothing to eat for six hours and nothing to drink for two hours before your arrival. You may be asked to shower with a specific antiseptic wash. Detailed instructions will be provided closer to the date.
Frequently asked questions.
How long before surgery is the pre-admission appointment?
Usually two to six weeks before your operation. It is scheduled early enough that anything found can be acted on, because correcting anaemia or improving blood sugar takes weeks rather than days. It is the appointment people are most inclined to treat as a formality and the one with the most direct effect on how the first fortnight goes.
Which of my medications do I stop before a joint replacement?
That is decided for you individually and given to you in writing by the anaesthetist and the pre-admission nurse. Do not stop anything on your own, particularly blood thinners. Bring every medication you take, including supplements and anything bought over the counter, to the pre-admission appointment.
Do I need a dental check before a joint replacement?
It is worth having any known dental problem treated before surgery rather than after. Bacteria from an untreated dental infection can reach a new joint through the bloodstream. Routine dental treatment after your joint replacement is fine; it is active infection before it that matters.
Should I stop smoking before surgery?
Yes, and the earlier the better. Smoking is associated with higher rates of wound complications and infection after joint replacement. Even a few weeks helps, and the rooms can arrange support.
What do I actually bring to hospital?
Your medications in their original packaging, your medication list, your imaging, your Medicare and health fund cards, loose comfortable clothing, flat enclosed shoes, a dressing gown, toiletries, a phone charger with a long cable, and your walking aids if you already use them. Leave jewellery and anything valuable at home.
Can I have a cortisone injection while I am waiting for surgery?
Tell the rooms before you do. An intra-articular steroid injection within roughly three months before a joint replacement is associated in the published literature with a higher rate of subsequent infection, so the timing matters.
Who takes me home, and do I need someone with me?
You cannot drive yourself home and you should not go home to an empty house on the first night. Arrange both before your admission date rather than in the days before, because it is the single most common reason a discharge gets delayed.
This page provides general information about a medical condition and a surgical procedure. It is not individual medical advice and does not replace consultation with a qualified practitioner. Outcomes vary between individuals and all surgery carries risk. A referral is needed for a consultation with Professor Daevyd Rodda; without one, you can start with the practice nurse practitioner, who can provide it.