On average, patients are usually discharged around 4-5 days after surgery, although this depends on what type of surgery they have had and how quickly they recover.
An x-ray will be taken prior to discharge, which will be reviewed by the surgeons to check the position of the metalwork.
Your child will receive pain relieving medication to take home and this will all be explained to you and your child.
Your child will be able to go home in your own transport. If you do not have transport, please inform the ward staff on admission and the hospital will provide an ambulance.
Caring for your child at home following surgery
Being in hospital can disrupt a child’s normal day to day routine and it can take some time to get back to normal. Encourage them to be as active as possible, but expect them to feel more tired than usual.
When lying down – your child should lie flat in bed with only one or two pillows. It is advisable to have a firm mattress if possible.
When sitting – your child should sit up straight in a chair and avoid ‘slouching’. Their back should be well supported against the back of the chair. Avoid low and easy chairs. Build up your child’s sitting time gradually, according to how comfortable they are.
Moving around – encourage your child to take regular short walks, gradually increasing the distance they are able. Your child should not lift or carry heavy objects. When trying to pick things up, it is important that they lower their body gently by bending the knees, hips and ankles, while taking care not to twist the back.
Continue to re-position your child regularly and encourage their mobility. If you lift your child, make sure you support them under the buttocks and around the back, avoid lifting your child under the arms. If your child uses a wheelchair, you may need to use a hoist to lift them in and out of the chair.
If you notice any redness, swelling, oozing, pain or tenderness at the operation site, please contact us for advice using the numbers on our Contact us page.
Returning to usual activities
For previously well children, we would anticipate your child will be mobilizing, eating and drinking a well-balanced diet and be able to resume some of their activities of daily living.
The wound should be healing with no complications. Your child will have an adhesive dressing on, which you will be encouraged to keep dry – spare dressings will be given in case they are needed.
Before discharge the nurses will arrange for the community nurses to visit your child to remove the dressing and check the wound around 14 days post-surgery.
If the nurse is happy that the wound is clean and dry, the dressings will no longer be required and your child will be able to shower. Patients are asked to wait for 6 weeks to have a bath to ensure optimum wound healing.
On average a 4 – 6 week break from education is taken.
Follow-up arrangements
Please ensure that until the wound is healed it does not get wet.
Once the scar is healed, please keep it out of the sun until it is no longer pink. Use total sun block on your child’s scar.
Patients will have a 6 week follow up appointment with the nurse specialist.
Patients will then have an appointment with the consultant 6 weeks later with x-rays and will be followed up with regular appointments for 2 years after surgery.
