Download Patient Instructions After Shoulder SLAP Tear Surgery

Shane K. Woolf, MD
Associate Professor of Arthroscopy,
Sports Medicine, and Shoulder Reconstruction
Chief, Sports Medicine
Medical University of South Carolina
Administrative Assistant: M. Annie Justiss
Office: (843) 792-1081 Fax: (843) 792-3674
Patient Instructions After Shoulder SLAP Tear Surgery
Diet:
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Resume your regular (high fiber) diet as tolerated. Use a stool softener if needed. Drink water.
Medications:
- __________________ take ______tablets every 4-6 hours, as instructed for pain (pain killer).
- __________________ is a non-narcotic pain medication. You may take up to _________ mg
______ time(s) per day for ______ days with food. DO NOT take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
medicines (eg Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Celebrex, etc) with Aspirin or other similar medications.
- Resume preoperative medications unless instructed otherwise.
Dressing Care:
- Keep dressing clean and dry. DO NOT remove the sutures.
- You may expect some light bloody drainage through the dressing from the fluid that is placed
into the shoulder during arthroscopy.
- Remove the dressing on the 3rd day after surgery. If the incisions are still moist, place a BandAid over the site until dry. If drainage continues contact your physician.
- Keep incisions dry for at least 3 days. After 3 days you may shower, but do not soak the
incisions until discussed with your physician. When you shower, do not rub the incisions.
Simply allow the water to wash over the site, and then pat dry.
Activity:
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-
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Rest and minimize activity after surgery.
Apply ICE for 20-30 minutes every 2 hours when awake (or use a cooling pack as directed) for
the first 2-3 days.
A physical therapy prescription is provided.
Call your physical therapist to arrange the first visit 3-5 days after your surgery.
DO NOT resume use of regular exercise equipment until cleared by your physician.
A sling will be provided prior to discharge. Remove the sling 5 times each day to perform motion
exercises. Continue to use the sling for 3 weeks or as long as your surgeon instructs, including
during sleep. The sling should only be removed for exercises, clothing changes, or while
showering. Keep a clean pad in your armpit to prevent excessive sweating when in the sling.
Active motion of the wrist and hand are permitted immediately. Active shoulder overhead
reaching and lifting under your own power are NOT permitted yet! You may use the
operated arm after surgery only for activities of daily living that do not require it to leave the
side of the body (eg eating, drinking, bathing, writing, computer use, etc.)
Five times each day you should perform Passive and Assisted Range of Motion exercises. For
example, forward elevation and external rotation exercises as shown below should be performed
with the non-operated arm used as the “helper arm” controlling the motion of the operated arm.
The operated arm should remain relaxed at all times. Twenty of each exercise should be
performed five times per day.
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Overhead Reach is helping to lift your operated arm up as high as it will go. Stretching is the
GOAL! To perform overhead reach, lie flat on your back, RELAX, grasp the wrist of your
operated shoulder with the helper
hand. Using the power of your helper
arm, bring the operated arm up to 90
degrees (straight up from the ground).
Start by holding it there for 10
seconds. After the pain improves, you
should try to hold it for 30 seconds.
Breathe slowly and deeply while the
arm is moved. Repeat this stretch 20
times, trying to move the arm up a
little higher each time.
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External Rotation is turning the arm out
to the side while your elbow stays close to
your body. External rotation is best
performed while lying on your back. Hold
a cane, yard stick, broom handle, or dowel
in both hands. Bend both elbows to a right
angle (facing straight up). Use gentle,
steady force from your helper arm to rotate
the hand of your operated shoulder out
away from your body. Continue the
rotation to 30 degrees away from the chest
holding it there for 10 seconds (***if your
subscapularis tendon was repaired, turn
the arm to neutral only, so your hand
faces just straight forward from the chest).
Repeat this exercise 20 times.
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Pendulum swings – dangle arm while seated and use other arm to move/swing the operated side.
Follow up:
- You should have a follow-up appointment in ________________. If you do not already have
one scheduled, call (843) 876-0111 to make an appointment.
- Notify the doctor if you have fever over 101.5ºF, excessive wound drainage, severe calf
tenderness, numbness in the leg, increasing pain, or any urgent concerns.
- You can reach the doctor or his staff 24 hours per day, seven days a week, by calling (843) 7922123 if you have an urgent question or concern.
- For medical emergencies call 911.
Specific Instructions: