Surgery Instructions & FAQs

We are honored that you have chosen to undergo surgery with our team. Dr. Henry will spend time during your office visits discussing surgery and details of the pre- and post-surgery period. However, we understand that there is a lot to take in, and there may be questions that you or your loved ones have before, during, and after your hospitalization. We have put together the following information packet for our patients who are planning to have surgery.

Before Surgery

  • • Call Dr. Henry’s office (212.774.7144) to schedule the date of the surgery with our team. When scheduling, make sure you get an estimate of how long you will be in the hospital from our office. Depending on the type of surgery, you may go home the same day, or you may stay in the hospital for longer.

    • Make sure to plan considering your work, holidays, upcoming family plans, and availability of family members/friends to help you out at home after surgery.

    • You will be contacted by the HSS call center between 1PM and 6PM the business day before surgery with your surgery time and your arrival time at the hospital. Call 212.606.1630 at any time to hear a pre-recorded message with pre-surgery information. If you have not heard from the call center by 6PM, call 212.606.1710. Unfortunately, surgery time is not guaranteed. This is determined by the hospital.

  • Your surgery is at the main campus building of Hospital for Special Surgery, at 535 E. 70th St., New York, New York 10021 (This is a different building than the office location).

  • • You will need pre-surgery testing if you are being admitted to the hospital overnight after surgery (Dr. Henry will discuss if your surgery typically requires hospital admission), over the age of 50, or have an ongoing medical condition (for example, high blood pressure, asthma, diabetes, hypothyroidism, obesity).

    • The pre-surgery medical testing must be done within 30 days of surgery; if it has been more than 30 days, it must be repeated.

    • Pre-surgery testing includes evaluation by a medical doctor or health provider, and typically includes routine blood tests (to check blood counts, electrolytes), urine tests, an electrocardiogram (“EKG”), and sometimes a chest x-ray.

    • We strongly recommend that you do pre-surgery testing with the medical doctors at HSS – it streamlines the process, and they can provide orthopaedic-specific recommendations. We can help coordinate this for you. If this is not possible, you can complete this testing with your primary care provider (PCP) and mail, fax, or email us a clearance statement with all testing results.

    • If you see a medical specialist (for example, cardiologist, pulmonologist, endocrinologist, oncologist, pain management doctor), please let our office know at the time of scheduling or ASAP. You may need clearance/recommendations from this provider as well.

  • Currently at HSS, a COVID test is required prior to surgery for all patients, even if you already had COVID and/or the vaccine. The policies and requirements may change as the US and world health status evolves. You can talk to our office regarding the timing of your COVID test at the time of scheduling. If you have a positive COVID test and your surgery is elective (that is, for a chronic condition), surgery may be delayed for a minimum of 4 weeks. If you recently had COVID, call our office and let us know.

  • • You will receive a full plan of what medicines to continue and what medicines to stop before surgery from the HSS medical doctors. Your PCP can also provide this plan (if they have any questions, they can contact us).

    • In general, you should stop taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) – Advil/Motrin/ibuprofen, Aleve/Naprosyn/naproxen, Celebrex/celecoxib, Mobic/meloxicam, Voltaren/diclofenac, full-strength aspirin (325 mg) – 7 days before surgery.

    • Tell us If you take a blood thinner (for example, Plavix/Clopidogrel, Coumadin/Warfarin, Lovenox/Enoxaparin, Eliquis/Apixaban, Xarelto/Rivaroxaban, Arixtra, Dabigatran, Pradaxa), steroids, hormone therapy (for example, oral contraceptives, birth control pills, testosterone, estrogen) or biologic immune agents (for example, Enbrel, Etanercept, infliximab, Remicade, Abatacept, rituximab) at the time of scheduling or ASAP. These often need to be stopped at a specific time before surgery.

  • We ask that all patients undergoing elective surgery stop nicotine products (cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vaping, etc.) 6 weeks prior to elective surgery and for at least 3 months after surgery. We care about your safety and making sure you get the best outcome possible from surgery. Unfortunately, we know a lot about the effects of nicotine on healing after foot and ankle surgery. Smoking can cause higher rates of infection, blood clots, problems with the wound and bone healing, and worse outcomes after surgery. If you smoke or use nicotine, we are happy to help you with resources to help you quit. You may be required to have blood and/or urine tests to make sure that the levels of nicotine in your system are low enough that you’re not at increased risk for a complication.

  • • There are several hospital-sponsored accommodations near HSS. Visit https://www.hss.edu/hotel-accommodations.asp to learn more.

    • If you will be taking an airplane flight home, please let Dr. Henry and the office know at the time of scheduling, because this will help us plan your post-surgery medications and follow-up schedule.

  • • You are required to have a responsible adult help escort you home after surgery. (Important: The hospital does not permit you to take a car service by yourself.)

    • We also strongly recommend that you have a friend, family member, or aide stay with you for at least the first 2-3 days after surgery. Most of our patients are using crutches or a walker and talking pain medicines in the first few days, so this is very important for your safety and comfort. If you would like to hire a private-duty nurse to assist you at home, call 212.774.7187.

  • Our office will contact your insurance carrier to obtain prior authorization for surgery. We also encourage you to contact your insurance carrier to determine your coverage, benefits, and responsibilities. If your insurance changes, please let us know ASAP. You and your insurance carrier will be responsible for different fees: surgery fee from our office, anesthesiology fee, and the hospital fee. Please contact our office if you have any questions about insurance or the billing process.

  • Your preparation before surgery is the key to success afterwards, and it can alleviate stress during your critical recovery period. Here are our tips:

    • When you pick a surgery date, make sure to consider work schedules, holidays, upcoming family plans, and availability of family members/friends to help you out at home. You cannot be discharged safely from the hospital if your family member or responsible friend is not available. The right answer for “when to schedule surgery” is different for each patient and depends on all of these factors.

    • Decide what you’ll need for your everyday life for the first few weeks after surgery. Most of our patients will be on crutches for the first several weeks, and it’s hard/impossible to do laundry, shop for groceries, clean the house/apartment, walk the dog, drive to work, take children to school/childcare/activities, etc. This is the time to catch up on all that laundry (or sign up with a delivery laundry service), hire a dog walker, notify your office/work, sign up for a food/restaurant/grocery delivery service, prepare meals and store them in the freezer, and get your children in carpool with their friends.

    • Make your home recovery-friendly. Clear the ground and pathways so you won’t trip on rugs, cords, chargers, or items. Foot and ankle surgery requires rest and elevation early, so you’ll be spending a lot of time in bed or on the couch. Make sure you have toiletries, loose comfortable clothing, books/computer, and snacks/water easily accessible to the space where you’ll be spending most of your time.

    • Prepare your pants/shorts. After surgery, most patients go home with a large splint or cast. Sweatpants without elastic bottoms and shorts work well to get on/off. Some patients will also just cut the leg off a pair of inexpensive pants for this period.

    • Plan to have a friend, family member, or aide stay with you for at least the first 2-3 days after surgery. You’ll be using crutches or a walker, recovering from anesthesia, and often taking pain medicines that make you groggy. It helps to have someone around to get you settled in and assist you with basics around the house.

    • Coordinate your transportation plans post-surgery. If you had right foot/ankle surgery, you cannot drive until you can completely weight-bear on the leg (this is often 6-12 weeks after surgery). If you had left foot/ankle surgery, you cannot drive until you are completely off narcotics/opioids or other sedating pain medication. Decide now who is going to be getting you home from the hospital and taking you to your post-surgery appointments.

    • Organize your recovery activities. Build your Netflix queue, library book list, Spotify playlist, video game library, stack of Sudoku puzzles, or knitting basket). Recovery after foot/ankle surgery requires rest and elevation. Keep your spirits up and your mind occupied with fun at-home hobbies, Zoom calls with loved ones, media, and crafts. Dr. Henry enjoys hearing what you’re reading and watching and is always happy to provide recommendations. 

  • • Review the full list of equipment on our website here.

    • Crutches/walker – can be purchased ahead of time or provided by the hospital on the day of surgery

    • Knee scooter/walker – often not covered by insurance, but can be ordered online new or used for minimal cost.

    • Stool/chair for shower

    • Elevated seat for toilet

    • Breakfast tray to support food/computer while resting

    • Leg elevation/wedge pillow to help elevate your foot/ankle (You can also make one at home using a stack of pillows and/or couch cushions.)

    • Cast cover for protecting your splint/cast/dressing after surgery (You can make this at home using a plastic garbage bag around your leg, hand towel wrapped around your thigh, and medical tape securing this to your skin for the shower.)

  • This depends on the surgery, the time of day that your surgery is performed, and your medical history. In general, many patients can go home the same day of surgery. However, if your surgery is longer/more complex, later in the day, or if you have medical problems that require monitoring for your safety, we may recommend that you stay in the hospital for at least one night. You will discuss this further with Dr. Henry and the medical doctor.

  • Call our office right away if you notice this. Do not wait until the morning of surgery. If you do have an active infection, we have to postpone surgery.

  • Call the office right away for any of these events so we can determine the best plan. We want to make sure we do the safest and best thing for you.

  • Call the office if anything comes up and you need to reschedule. Emergencies happen. We understand that there are a lot of things outside of everyone’s control. Similarly, on our end, there may be surgical or patient emergencies that arise urgently that require Dr. Henry’s immediate attention and may result in a rescheduling of surgery. Unfortunately, this is the nature of an orthopaedic surgical practice. If this happens, we will communicate with you immediately and try to minimize any disruption to you and your schedule as much as possible. We value your time and trust in us, and we will always strive to do our best for each and every patient.

Night Before/Day Of Surgery

  • • You will be called by the hospital call center between 1PM and 6PM the business day before surgery with your surgery time and your arrival time at the hospital. If you have not heard from the call center by 6PM the business day before your surgery date, call 212.606.1710.

    • The call center will also give instructions on when to stop eating/drinking prior to surgery. For most patients, you should stop eating at midnight before surgery. You can have approved medications with small sips of water the day of surgery. Clear liquids are typically allowed up to 3 hours before your arrival time. Confirm these instructions with the HSS medical doctor at your pre-surgery appointment and the hospital call center the business day before surgery.

  • Shower or bathe prior to your arrival for surgery. Do not use body lotion on the surgical day. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and supportive sneakers/shoes to the hospital. Wear or bring shorts/pants that will fit over a bulky splint/cast (see “What should I do to prepare?” above). Remove all jewelry and piercings, including wedding bands, and do not bring them to the hospital. Do not wear contact lenses – you will have to remove them prior to surgery, so it’s better to just wear glasses.

  • • Please bring a complete list of all your medications and doses, including prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, supplements, and herbals. You do not need to bring the actual pills, as our pharmacy will provide all your necessary home medicines while you’re here.

    • Small bag or tote to hold your belongings

    • Insurance card, legal photo ID, prescription medication card, and 1 credit card

    • Any assistive device you will use after surgery, including crutches and/or walker

    • Cell phone and charger

    • Telephone number and address for where you can be reached after surgery

    • Telephone number for designated family member/friend for Dr. Henry to call after surgery

    • Telephone number for person who will go home with you after surgery

    • A book, magazines, tablet, e-reader, or music/headphones for relaxation

    • If you use CPAP for sleep apnea (“OSA”), bring the mask attachment and a record of the settings you normally use. You do not need to bring the machine itself.

    • Leave valuables and jewelry at home

    • Your belongings will be stored in a locked locker during surgery, and they will be returned to you after you are awake.

  • There is no requirement for a guest to come with you to the hospital for surgery, unless the patient is under the age of 18. If you do bring a family member/friend, they can stay with in the pre-surgery area up until you are taken to the operating room, after which they can return to the waiting area at HSS. Your family member/friend can also leave the hospital and wait for updates via phone or text message.

  • When you check in at HSS on the day of surgery, you will be able to sign up your family member/friend to receive automatic text message notifications and phone calls with updates from the Patient Liaison service. Your family member/friend will be contacted via phone, text, or in-person communication when you are ready to go home.

  • Surgeries are at the main campus building of Hospital for Special Surgery, at 535 E. 70th St., New York, New York 10021. (This is a different building than the office location). You will be greeted in the lobby by an HSS patient liaison member. You and your family member/friend will be escorted to the pre-surgery “Holding Area.” Parking information for the main hospital can be found here: https://www.hss.edu/parking.asp.

  • A pre-surgery nurse will meet you and review your medications, allergies, and basics of your medical history. The nurse will also start an intravenous line (“IV”). A physician's assistant will review your medical history and perform a physical exam. The main purpose of this examination is to see if anything has changed since you last saw your medical doctor and Dr. Henry. You will be asked to confirm what type of surgery you are having, the side (right or left), and will be asked to sign consent for that surgery if you have not already done so. Dr. Henry will come to speak to you and to sign your surgical site. This is simply a safeguard to confirm where on your body the surgery will be performed. You will also meet your anesthesiology team and discuss the type of anesthesia that you will receive. You may meet a physical therapist before surgery to review how to safely use crutches and/or a walker.

  • • The type of anesthesia you receive will be determined by you and the anesthesiologist.

    • Overall, >90% of HSS patients get regional anesthesia, which involves an injection (“nerve block”) that numbs the nerves to the lower leg, ankle, and foot. You will be comfortably sedated before the injection, and you will receive sedation throughout the surgery so that you are sleeping/resting but breathing on your own. (With sedation, you are not awake and you do not remember what happens in surgery.) When you receive this type of anesthesia, you will feel no pain during the surgery. As a result, you will need to receive less sedation and pain medications, which will make your recovery more comfortable and limit side effects.

    • Due to patient preference, underlying medical conditions, or anesthesiology recommendation, some patients do get general anesthesia, which means you are put to sleep with medications through the IV and a breathing tube/ventilator breathes for you during the surgery.

  • • The injection (“nerve block”) typically lasts 24-36 hours. When the nerve block is on, some or all of your foot/ankle will be numb (“asleep”) and you will not be able to wiggle your toes or move your foot/ankle. This is normal.

    • As the block wears off (and your limb “wakes up”), it is normal to feel tingling or other abnormal sensations similar to bumping your funny bone.

    • We recommend that you start taking pain medication when the nerves start to “wake up” after surgery (feel tingling or other sensations) so you stay ahead of the pain.

  • Dr. Henry will call your designated family member/friend with an update after your surgery. Please be patient when waiting for an update. Delays and changes do occur in the operating room that cannot be controlled or monitored by the office.

After Surgery

Hospitalization

  • You will be in our inpatient unit with nurses who are experienced with orthopaedic surgery patients. In the morning, you will be checked on by a member of the inpatient orthopaedic surgery team – usually, an orthopaedic fellow or resident medical doctor (MD) or a physician’s assistant (“PA”) who communicates with Dr. Henry about your status. During the day, you will work with physical therapy on safely getting around with crutches/walker. You may also be checked on by the HSS medical doctors, case managers, and social workers. Everyone is committed to monitoring your progress and ensuring your safety prior to discharge.

  • You can be discharged after surgery if you meet 3 major criteria:

    1. Your pain is managed with the nerve block and/or medicines by mouth (oral medicine).

    2. You “clear” physical therapy (demonstrate that you can safely get around with crutches/walker to the bathroom and in/out of bed).

    3. You are medically safe to go home (your heart rate, blood pressure, etc. are normal, and any existing medical problems are all stable).

  • Yes. In the post-COVID world, the hospital has instituted a visitor policy that abides by local and national health regulations. For the most up-to-date information on a visitor policy, visit https://www.hss.edu/visitor-information.asp.

  • We understand that it can be challenging to go home after surgery, especially if there are challenges like stairs and support. Our social workers and case managers can help with a plan for an acute rehabilitation inpatient facility, a subacute rehabilitation facility, or a skilled nursing facility. They can also help you explore options like home health care with visits from a nurse or aide. You can call the Case Management Department at 212.606.1271 or the Pre-Admission Case Manager Noreen Curran at 212.606.1787, or visit https://www.hss.edu/case-management-discharge-planning.asp to learn more. They will also be available in the hospital to discuss this.

Medications

  • • After surgery or upon discharge, an HSS team member will send your prescriptions to the pharmacy you designate. Please select a pharmacy that will be open/available on the day of your surgery/anticipated discharge date. (Some pharmacies are closed on weekends or certain days/times.) It is okay if this is different from your regular pharmacy. Some patients choose a pharmacy close to the hospital so a family member/friend can help pick up their prescriptions.

    • If you are discharged from the hospital after your pharmacy is closed, we can send you with a “courtesy prescription” with a 1-day supply of medications from the hospital pharmacy. However, the hospital cannot provide you with the full supply.

    • By law, all prescriptions are now sent electronically. These prescriptions may be sent by a physician assistant or resident/fellow at HSS, so do not worry if you don’t recognize the prescriber’s name. (They will all be under the guidance of Dr. Henry.) You may have prescriptions for pain, blood clot prevention, and nausea.

    • Also by law, our office is required to screen your controlled substance prescription history through the state database for any recent history of opioid prescriptions. If you are under the care of a pain management physician, they should be made aware of your upcoming surgery and potential post-surgery pain management needs.

  • You may begin taking your pain medications as directed when you arrive home. Our goal is to manage your post-surgery pain so that you can perform basic activities (eating, hygiene), and so you can safely get around. However, expecting 0 out of 10 pain is not reasonable after surgery – orthopaedic surgery always results in some postoperative pain. If the nerve block is still in effect, we suggest that you start taking pain medication when the feeling/sensation starts to come back in the leg. We recommend a combination of techniques to help your pain after surgery and minimize the use of narcotics, which have dangerous side effects.

    Pain Medicines

    • Tylenol (acetaminophen): this is a non-narcotic medication that can be taken safely around the clock (650mg [2 regular strength tablets] every 6 hours, or 1000mg [2 extra strength tablets] every 8 hours). It is ok to take Tylenol with oxycodone (Roxicodone, Oxycontin) and hydromorphone (Dilaudid). Adding Tylenol may help a lot. Do not take more than 4000 mg of acetaminophen daily. You cannot take Tylenol if you are taking an opioid medicine that contains Tylenol (for example, Percocet, Vicodin, Norco).

    • Advil/Motrin (ibuprofen): this is a non-narcotic NSAID that can be taken in the first 3 days after surgery around the clock (600mg [3 regular strength tablets], 3 times a day) in addition to Tylenol and oxycodone. After 3 days, limit your NSAID use (unless otherwise directed by Dr. Henry).

    • Oxycodone/Hydromorphone (Dilaudid): these are narcotic/opioid medicines that can be taken only after you have tried Tylenol and Advil/Motrin and the pain-reducing techniques below.

    • Percocet/Vicodin/Norco: these are all medicines that combine oxycodone (a narcotic/opioid) and Tylenol (acetaminophen). If you are prescribed one of these medicines, do not take Tylenol separately.

    • Whether you are taking a stand-alone opioid (Oxycodone or Hydromorphone/Dilaudid) or an opioid combined with Tylenol (Percocet, Vicodin, Norco):

    o Most patients only take opioids for the first 5 days after surgery.

    o You should gradually reduce the number of opioid pills and how frequently you take them at home. (For example, go from taking 2 pills to 1 pill each time, and/or go from taking a pill every 4 hours to every 6 hours, then every 8 hours, then just once a day, etc.)

    o You will be discharged with the number of opioid pills that you are expected to need after surgery. We typically do not provide opioid refills. Patients who require longer periods of opioids may be referred to pain management to help safely transition off them.

    o Opioids can cause nausea, dizziness, sleepiness, and constipation. Do not drink alcohol or use other sedating drugs when taking opioids. Do not drive or operative machinery. Carefully read the information provided with the medication.

  • • Elevation: The most important thing to do after surgery is elevate the leg above the level of the heart. You should do this most of the day (22-23 hours/day). While opioid pain medications relieve pain temporarily by acting on pain receptors in your brain, elevation actually reduces inflammation, which is the source of pain, coming from the foot/ankle.

    • Ice: If you have a splint/cast on the foot/ankle, it is impossible to put ice directly on the area. However, you can put an ice pack behind the knee to cool the nerves that supply the foot/ankle.

  • In addition to the medication, you will be given a list of all the medication you are prescribed after surgery. Follow specific instructions from Dr. Henry and the medical doctor. Here is what we generally prescribe:

    • Blood clot prevention – typically, Aspirin, or sometimes a blood thinner like Xarelto (rivaroxaban) or Eliquis (apixaban). This is the medicine that you must take post-surgery to decrease your risk of a blood clot to the legs and lungs. If you were taking a blood thinner before surgery, talk to Dr. Henry about when you should restart it after.

    • Anti-nausea medicine – Ondansetron (Zofran) as needed for nausea/vomiting.

    • Stool softener/laxative – Constipation is common after surgery and with pain medicines, even if you’re otherwise healthy/regular. We recommend Senna (senokot), Miralax (Polyethylene glycol 3350), and Dulcolax (Bisacodyl) pills or suppositories to help. We can prescribe these medicines, but they also all be purchased over-the-counter at any pharmacy.

    • If you feel itchy after surgery (this is common, especially with opioid medicines), you can take over-the-counter allergy medicine like Benadryl (Diphenhydramine).

    You can resume all medications you were taking before surgery unless otherwise specified.

Activities

  • After surgery, there are 3 rules to follow:

    1. Do not put any weight on the surgery leg (unless instructed otherwise by Dr. Henry). This means you must stay non-weight bearing when you’re using crutches/walker. Do not let the weight of the leg rest on the ground when standing, and do not push off on the leg when going from sitting to standing.

    2. Keep the splint/cast/dressing dry and in place. For bathing, use a cast cover or a plastic bag/towel/tape over the splint and hold it away from the water (or sponge bath). Do not remove the dressing/splint unless instructed by Dr. Henry. If the splint/dressing gets wet, call the office ASAP to arrange a dressing change.

    3. Elevate 90% of the day (~22-23 hours). Surgery causes the foot/ankle to swell, which causes pain and can increase the risk of infection and poor scar healing. To reduce the swelling and inflammation, you must elevate the leg (ideally, above the level of the heart) most of the day. This means you may get up to use the bathroom and get something to eat, but not much else!

  • Patients typically sleep on their back with the leg elevated on pillows/cushions. You can also sleep on your non-surgery side, so the side that had surgery is still relatively elevated – if you do this, put pillows between your legs for support. Some patients like to cover their splint/cast with a clean pillowcase, so it doesn’t dirty the sheets.

  • You must keep the splint/cast/dressing dry and stay non-weight bearing on the leg when you bathe/shower. We recommend that you use a shower chair so you can sit in the shower and keep weight off your leg. You can watch the video here for a demonstration. Use a cast cover over your splint/cast/dressing. You can also make a cast cover using a large plastic bag/garbage bag and a towel/tape around your thigh. Hold the surgery leg out of the tub or away from the stream of water as much as possible.

  • The following conditions are all normal after surgery:

    • Swelling of the leg, ankle, foot, toes

    • Some discoloration in the leg, ankle, foot, toes

    • Abnormal sensations in the ankle, foot, and toes (including mild numbness and tingling). After the nerve block wears off, you should have sensation (feeling) and motion of your toes in your splint. However, due to the surgery and swelling, your foot/ankle still might not feel completely normal. That’s okay.

    • Feeling like the surgical leg is “heavy” or “dead weight”

    • Low-grade fever (under 100.5F) – This is just your body reacting to the trauma of surgery.

    • Small amount of blood or drainage from the surgical site/splint

    • Bruising along the surgical leg

    • Pain, redness, and swelling of the leg when it is “dependent” (close to the ground). This should improve if you elevate the leg above the level of your heart.

    • Mild/moderate itching under the splint/cast. You can use a blow dryer on a cool/low setting aimed at the skin to relieve itching.

    • Fatigue – surgery recovery and post- surgery medicines can make you tired

    • Mild dizziness/nausea after anesthesia or after taking medicines. You can try to minimize this by decreasing the amount of opioid/narcotic pain medicine you’re taking.

    While these are all normal reactions, you can always call the office if any of these reactions persist or are concerning.

  • Call the office or visit your local emergency room if you have any of the following:

    • Significant increasing pain, which is not improving with elevation and/or medication

    • Excessive bleeding or drainage on the surgical site/splint

    • Major numbness or loss of motion of the leg/toes after the nerve block has worn off

    • White toes or loss of "capillary refill" (Pinch the tip of the toes to make the skin turn white, and it should quickly return to normal. If the skin does not become pink again when you release the pinch, call the office.)

    • Fever (>100.5F) and/or chills

    • Shortness of breath or facial swelling

    • Severe pain in the calf

  • You cannot drive after right foot/ankle surgery until you can completely weight-bear on the leg, and you can safely push on the pedal without pain. This is often 6-12 weeks after surgery. If you had left foot/ankle surgery, you cannot drive until you are completely off narcotics/opioids or other sedating pain medication.

  • For most procedures, we recommend that you wait a minimum of 3 months before going to the dentist for routine cleaning or procedures. If you had an ankle replacement surgery, we recommend that you are pre-medicated prior to any dental procedures, with 1 dose of an antibiotic one hour prior to the dental procedure to reduce the risk of infection of your ankle replacement.

  • Most patients will start physical therapy (PT) at 4-6 weeks after surgery. We will give you instructions and a prescription at your post-surgery appointment.

Thank you for choosing HSS! I look forward to seeing you. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the office at 212.774.7144. You can also reach out via the MyHSS Portal. 

We will always do our best to get back to you as soon as possible. If you are having a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. 

 You should see Dr. Henry 10 to 14 days after your surgery. If you do not have an appointment when you leave the hospital after surgery, please call to schedule.