10 Essential Questions for Your Orthopedic Surgeon Before Surgery

Critical Pre‑Surgical Discussion Points

1. Risks & Complications: Infection, bleeding, DVT, nerve injury, stiffness, nonunion – specific to your procedure.
2. Success Rate: Published outcomes, surgeon's personal series, definition of "success" for your case.
3. Recovery Timeline: Duration, milestones, restrictions, PT protocol, return‑to‑work/driving/sport.
4. Long‑Term Implications: Hardware permanence, adjacent segment disease, activity limitations, revision likelihood.
5. Failure Contingency: Revision options, salvage procedures, alternative treatments.
6. Anesthesia Plan: General vs. regional vs. block; risks, side effects, recovery impact.
7. Pain Management: Multimodal regimen, opioid‑sparing strategies, breakthrough plan, outpatient protocol.
8. Activity Resumption: Specific timelines for work, driving, sports, ADLs.
9. Post‑Op Precautions: Weight‑bearing, bracing, wound care, positioning, medication restrictions.
10. Red‑Flag Symptoms: Fever, escalating pain, wound changes, neurovascular deficits, calf swelling – when to call/ER.

Bring a written list; take notes or record (with permission). Informed consent requires understanding, not just signing.