Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS)

We have implemented the following components, in accordance with clinical recommendations for Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) in a Joint Replacement Surgery, to help you achieve a better recovery after surgery:

• Joint Replacement Camp – This class covers the entire surgical process, which helps set expectations with our patients. It covers the patient's personal goals and helps ease any anxiety they have over the surgery process. This is required for all patients.
• Pre-operative Nutrition – We recognize that good nutrition is part of healing. Along with education on an appropriate diet prior to surgery, we are also using the Abbott pre-op bundle, which includes the immunonutrition drinks five days before and after surgery and the pre-op carb loading drinks to help reduce nausea and vomiting and kick start healing.
• Multimodal Pre-operative Pain Control – With help from our anesthesia providers, we have developed a pre-op order set that includes multimodal pain medication before surgery to reduce the amount of opioids our patients will need.
• Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Prophylaxis – We take measures prior to surgery to help prevent blood clots from occurring during or after surgery.
• Anesthesia ERAS Protocol that Includes Anesthesia Type – Our providers use spinal anesthesia per the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) recommendations if appropriate or general anesthesia per the patient's need. We also perform a nerve block to enhance post-operative pain control. It also includes recommendations for maintaining appropriate peri-operative fluid balance and protocols to control nausea and vomiting after surgery.
• Maintain Strict Normal Body Temperature
• Multimodal Post-operative Pain Control – Our patients receive medications from multiple classes to control pain so that we are able to use less opioid medication after surgery.
• Early Mobilization – Our patients are seen by physical therapy and occupational therapy within hours of their surgery. They take their first steps either in the recovery room or upon arriving at their patient room.