Achieving the best possible surgical outcome depends not only on the procedure itself but also on your preparation in the days and weeks beforehand. Careful preoperative preparation contributes significantly to faster recovery, improved healing, and the best possible functional outcome.
The following recommendations will help you actively contribute to the success of your surgery.
1. Nutrition
A balanced, protein-rich diet supports wound healing and helps preserve muscle mass.
We recommend:
- a protein-rich diet (approximately 1.2–1.5 g of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, provided there is no underlying kidney disease)
- a Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish, healthy plant oils, and nuts
- adequate daily fluid intake
If you are known to have vitamin D deficiency or have limited exposure to sunlight, vitamin D supplementation may be beneficial after consultation with your primary care physician.
2. Exercise and Mobility
Try to maintain the mobility of your shoulder or elbow as much as possible before surgery.
Even in the presence of tendon tears, good preoperative range of motion is highly beneficial. Regular exercises, physiotherapy, stretching, or swimming help preserve muscle function and joint mobility.
Particularly in patients undergoing shoulder replacement surgery, postoperative range of motion is strongly influenced by the mobility achieved before surgery.
3. General Health
Your overall health should be optimized before surgery.
Please ask your primary care physician to assess the following:
- Do you have anemia?
- Are there any chronic infections, such as infected tooth roots, chronic wounds, or other sources of infection?
- If you have diabetes mellitus, is your blood sugar well controlled?
Acute infections such as fever, the common cold, COVID-19, or bacterial infections should be fully resolved before elective surgery.
These issues will also be reviewed during your preoperative consultation.
4. Skin Care and Hygiene
We recommend taking a thorough shower on the evening before surgery.
You may additionally use a 4% chlorhexidine antiseptic body wash, available from your pharmacy. However, this is not mandatory.
Please follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use on the skin and hair. If you have a known allergy to chlorhexidine, this product should not be used.
We will be happy to discuss this with you during your preoperative consultation and can provide an appropriate antiseptic wash if required.
5. MRSA
If you are known to be colonized with MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), decolonization treatment should be completed before surgery.
Routine MRSA screening is generally not necessary in otherwise healthy patients.
6. Smoking and Alcohol
Smoking significantly increases the risk of wound-healing complications, postoperative infections, and delayed recovery.
Ideally, smoking should be stopped at least four weeks before surgery.
Excessive alcohol consumption should also be avoided in the weeks leading up to surgery.
7. Medications
Please do not discontinue any medications on your own.
In particular, blood thinners, diabetes medications, and certain other medications may require adjustment. This should always be coordinated with your surgeon, primary care physician, and anesthesiologist.
The medications you will need at home after surgery—especially pain medication—should be obtained from your pharmacy before your operation.
Prescriptions will be provided during your preoperative appointment, ensuring that your medications are readily available at home immediately after discharge.
8. Transportation to and from the Hospital
Please note that you must not drive yourself home after surgery, regardless of whether you are wearing a shoulder sling or an elbow brace.
Please arrange your transportation before your operation.
You may:
- be picked up by a family member or friend, or
- inform us during your preoperative consultation if you require transportation. We will be happy to arrange a medical taxi for you. (Please note that this service is subject to additional charges and may not be covered by your insurance.)
In most cases, you can expect to be discharged around 12:00 noon or shortly after lunch on the day following surgery.
If possible, please let us know your anticipated pick-up time during your preoperative appointment. This helps both you and the staff at Privatklinik Hochrum to plan your discharge efficiently.
If you prefer a longer hospital stay, please discuss this with us during your preoperative consultation. We will do our best to accommodate your wishes whenever possible.
9. Fasting Before Surgery
On the day before surgery, you may eat normally until midnight.
From six hours before surgery, you must not eat any solid food.
Clear fluids such as water or unsweetened tea (no coffee with milk!) are generally permitted until two hours before surgery.
Your anesthesiologist will provide the final and binding fasting instructions during your preoperative assessment.
10. Preparing Your Home
Prepare your home before surgery to ensure a comfortable recovery.
Helpful preparations include:
- collecting your prescribed medications before surgery and keeping them readily available
- having ice packs in the freezer
- preparing comfortable clothing with wide sleeves
- arranging extra pillows to support an elevated upper-body sleeping position
- organizing assistance from family or friends with shopping or household tasks during the first few days after surgery
- scheduling your postoperative physiotherapy appointments in advance