Pre-operative information

  • Stop taking anti-inflammatory medications, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) like ozempic and anticoagulants (including Coumadin, Vitamin E, Fish Oil, Aspirin, and any Ibuprofen or Naproxen products) prior to surgery. Your doctor will notify you how long to stop taking these medications prior to your surgery.
  • You may take Tylenol as needed for pain.
  • If you take a daily prescribed blood thinner, consult with the prescribing doctor on dosage instructions before and after your surgery.
  • No eating or drinking after midnight prior to surgery except for prescribed medications.
  • The nursing staff will call to advise on taking prescribed medications. Any medications that should be taken day of surgery can be taken with a small sip of water.
  • We recommend being aware of your surroundings and avoid staying outside for a long period of time to avoid scrapes, rashes, blisters, abrasions, or bug bites. We do not want any open wounds or rashes on the affected extremity. If you notice any type of these skin conditions, please contact our office so we can perform a quick skin check.
  • Do not shave the affected extremity for 1 week prior to your surgery and remove any artificial nails and/or nail polish.
  • If you have a fracture requiring surgery, please keep the affected extremity elevated as much as possible to keep the swelling to a minimum.
  • Please shower morning of surgery and avoid using any lotions, powders, creams.

Post-operative information

  • Keep the incision clean and dry.
  • Keep cast or splint clean and dry, and do not try to remove it. If there are problems with the cast or splint, please contact our office or on-call doctor.
  • Maintain a schedule of prescribed pain medications. Once a severe level of pain is reached, it is much more difficult to control the pain.
  • Keep your extremity elevated (if possible) to minimize swelling. This will also help with pain control.
  • It is not unusual to have a slight fever after general anesthesia for the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery. Drinking fluids, deep breathing, and coughing are helpful after general surgery to limit the development of fever. Any high fever over 101.5 may be more concerning. Please contact the office for further instructions.
  • Pain medicine can cause itching, nausea, and/or constipation. These are all COMMON side effects of narcotic-based medicine and are not necessarily drug allergies.
  • Please contact the office with any further questions.
  • It is not unusual to have swelling and pain of the extremities after surgery. If necessary, the ace wrap can be loosened if it seems too tight, but please do not remove the splint (if applicable).
  • It is not unusual to have some mild bleeding that soaks through the dressing. Please reinforce the dressing with more gauze dressing, or ace wrap, if available, to provide more compression. If this does not control the bleeding, then please contact the office.

What you can expect day of surgery

  • Be sure to wear loose and comfortable clothing.
  • Please arrive promptly at your scheduled time.
  • You are only allowed to have one person over the age of 18 accompanying you. We recommend it be the person who will be assisting you at home so they are present for discharge instructions.
  • Upon arrival to the center, you will be greeted by a member of our staff who will get you checked in for your procedure.
  • Shortly after completion of registration you will be called back for a Pre-Op assessment.
  • Your family/friend will be able to see you before and after surgery.
  • We recommend you park in the parking garage attached to the building. This is parking garage 4 and the entrance is located on Commonwealth. You can park on any level and take the elevator to floor 5. Once on the 5th floor please enter the waiting room. Our registration rooms are in section 2 of the waiting room and a member of our staff should be waiting to greet you in Registration 1.

Billing

  • Please contact our business office Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM with questions regarding your billing or insurance information. We will be happy to assist you.
  • Anticipating surgery or outpatient procedures can be stressful, and part of the anxiety can arise from not fully understanding associated out-of-pocket expenses.
  • One of our insurance verification specialists will contact you if there is an anticipated out-of-pocket expense associated with your planned procedure.
  • Please realize charges for your procedure at Lincoln Park Center for Advanced Orthopedic Surgery are separate from your surgeon’s charge as well as any anesthesiologist and/or pathologist charges which may be incurred.
  • If your procedure is not covered by insurance, full payment is required at the time of service unless other arrangements are made in advance.
  • Patients – or their legal guardians – are ultimately responsible for payment of facility services at Lincoln Park Center for Advanced Orthopedic Surgery.
  • Lincoln Park Center for Advanced Orthopedic Surgery accepts cash, checks, Care Credit, any major credit card, a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), or a Health Savings Account (HSA) as a financing option.
  • Center and Billing Sign

Health insurance

  • We participate in a wide range of health plans and accept Medicare assignment. Call us for an updated list at 312.896.7700.