Hospital Care - Cervical Spine

Day Of Surgery

What to do

Report to Johnson City Medical Center where you will be prepared for surgery. Your surgeon will call your family when the surgery is complete. If you have a back brace, please bring it and let your family keep it until you get to your post operative room on the Spine Center.

What to Expect

You will be prepared for surgery by a perioperative team. This includes asking you many history questions, assessing your vital signs and reviewing your current home medications. You will leave the perioperative area and go to the holding area prior to your surgery. An operating room nurse as well as your anesthesiologist will interview you. They will escort you to the operating room where your surgeon will do your procedure. Following surgery you will be taken to a recovery area where you will remain for one to two hours. During this time, pain control will be established, your vital signs will be monitored and an X-ray may be taken of your surgical site. You will then be taken to the Spine Center (6400) where a nurse will care for you. We do allow you to have visitors on your operative day if you feel like company. If you would prefer not to have visitors, the Spine Care team can arrange this for you. Most of the discomfort occurs the first 12 hours following surgery, so during this time, you will receive pain medication through your IV. You will probably remain in bed the first day. The staff will instruct you on your appropriate activity level. It is very important that you wear your SCDs (Sequential Compression Devices) and TEDs on the first day. This will help prevent blood clots from forming in your legs. You should begin using your Incentive Spirometer and doing the deep-breathing exercises. The Spine Care team will also assist you with turning, coughing and deep-breathing.

Post-op Day 1

On Day 1 after surgery you will be bathed and helped out of bed and seated in a recliner in your room. We prefer the straight back recliners for you.Your surgeon or his physician's assistant will visit you in the morning. The physical therapist will assess your progress and get you walking on this day. IV pain medication will be stopped and you will begin oral medication. Occupational therapy will begin, if needed. Visitors are always welcome.

Post-op Day 2 (if needed)

On Day 2 after surgery you will be helped out of bed early and will dress in loose clothing you've brought to the hospital. Clothing should be loose. Shorts and tops are usually best; long pants are restrictive. Your day will start early in the a.m. with a morning walk with your physical therapist. After lunch you may have a second physical therapy session. You may begin walking stairs on this day. Evenings are free for friends and family to visit.

Post-op Day 3 (if needed)

Day 3 is similar to Day 2 in the morning and you can practice stairs if needed. You will be discharged in the afternoon. You will be discharged in the afternoon.

Discharge Instructions

If you are going Home

Since you will not be permitted to drive for some time after surgery, you will need to make arrangements for someone to drive you home. You will receive written discharge instructions concerning medications, physical therapy, activity, etc. We will arrange for equipment. Take this Patient Guidebook with you. Most patients go directly home to continue therapy as an outpatient, though some patients may require home health services. If your surgeon determines this is necessary, we will arrange it. Please be aware that transportation issues do not usually qualify you for home health services.

If  you are going to a Sub-Acute Rehab Facility

The decision to go home or to a sub-acute rehab facility will be made collectively by you, the Spine Program Coordinator, your surgeon, your physical therapist and your insurance company. Every attempt will be made to have this decision finalized in advance but may be delayed until the day of discharge.

Please keep in mind that the majority of our patients do so well, they don’t meet the guidelines to qualify for sub-acute rehab. Also keep in mind that insurance companies do not become involved in "social issues," such as lack of caregiver, animals, etc. These are issues you will have to address before admission.