Caring for the Surgical Site - Surgical Guide to Left Total Knee Replacement
- A dry sterile dressing may be placed over the incision. The incision can often be left open to air without a dressing.
- Please inform your surgeon if you notice increasing redness or drainage from your incision.
Showering/Dressing
You cannot take a bath or shower until your staples or sutures are removed which is generally 10-14 days after surgery. Your surgeon’s office will give you specific instructions.
Showering in a Tub/Shower
Transferring in and out of the shower may be difficult initially after surgery. However, in both the short and long run, you should be concerned with safety as you enter and leave a tub/shower. You may want to equip your tub/shower with safety handrails and a non-slip surface to maximize your safety. Please arrange for this to be done before your surgery, if possible.
The content of this website is intended for individuals undergoing single sided total knee replacement for either the right or left knee. If you are undergoing total knee replacement for BOTH your knees on the same day then please review the content with your inpatient physical therapist or schedule a preoperative consult with our physical therapy outpatient center at 212.606.1213.