Any questions?

In this section you can get numerous answers to your questions. If you still have more to ask, do not hesitate to write to us, and we will answer as soon as we can.

Do I need e reference note for the orthopaedic out-patient consultation?

What do I have to take with me for the out-patient examination?

Where are the out-patient consultation rooms?

Do foreign paients get treatment at the Orthopaedic Department?

What are the visiting hours of the in-patient unit?

Where is the in-patient unit of the Orthopaedic Department?

How to prepare for a surgery?

What do I need to know about the stay in hospital?

For how long di I have to stay in hospital after the surgery?

What happens after the surgery?

How long is the recovery after a total hip replacement surgery?

Do I need e reference note for the orthopaedic out-patient consultation?
Yes, you need to have a reference letter for orthopaedics department for your first out-patient examination.

When you are e new patient you have to book a date for your examination. If you ahve chosen a certain physician, then you will be informed when your doctor is available. You can recieve an earlier date if you don’t want to chose a certain doctor.

What do I have to take with me for the out-patient examination?
For an out-patient examination you need to have a reference note or an earlier orthopaedic document (out-patient or in-patient). You should take your personal documents (ID and address card) and your social insurance card (TAJ card). You should arrive to the admission office first. Later your documents will be asked again at the Orthopaedic Department by the assistant.

If you have any earlier X-rays, CT or MRI images etc. (physical or on a CD), take them with you.

When the examination is finished, you will be given an out-patient document. You are advised to show this to your family doctor (GP).

Where are the out-patient consultation rooms?
The out-patient consultation rooms are in the basement level of wing “B” and on the 3rd floor of the New Clinic Building. Currently we have 4 examination rooms.

Do foreign paients get treatment at the Orthopaedic Department?
Patients from outside of our service region and from abroad should aquire information on the phone number of the out-patient unit:

+36 62 545 584

What are the visiting hours of the in-patient unit

Where is the in-patient unit of the Orthopaedic Department?
The in-patient unit of the Orthopaedic Department is locted on the 3rd floor of the New Clinic Buinding in wing “D” and “E”.

How to prepare for a surgery?
Most of the surgical procedures are held in general anesthesia or – in case of lower limb procedures – in spinal anesthesia. Laboratory examinations and ECG should be taken 1 to 4 weeks before the surgery. Other examinations (such as blood type, virus screening, chest X-ray etc.) may be necessary depending on the circumstances. 1 to 2 weeks before the operation (1 to 2 days for day-case surgeries) the findings of these tests should be taken to the anesthetist assigned for the surgery. These appointments are booked for you beforehand.

In case the procedure requires only local anesthesia, usually no tests are necessary before the surgery. If even so, you will be informed at the booking procedure.

Patients are given an ambulant sheet containing the date of the surgery and other impotant data (eg. what to take to the hospital). Some medications (especially the group calles NSAID) should not be taken in the last week before the surgery. Your family doctor should advise you which are these and what are the substitutes.

For major procedures – such as total hip or knee replacements, spinal surgeries -, you should arrive to the hospital one day before. You can eat and take your medications as usual. It is advised to take a few doses of your medications with you. Smaller procedures require attendance only in the morning of the surgery. You should not eat that day, and take medications only if that is totally necessary, only with a little water. If the surgery is held in the morning, you may be asked to attend the hospital in the evening before. If so, you will be informed in time.

What do I need to know about the stay in hospital?
Your most important and vital medication are supplied for yoou by the hospital Non prime necessity medication (eg. vitamins) are not necessarily supplied for you. Certainly, painkillers are given for you after the surgery.

Food is supplied 3 times a day by the hospital. You can have your own food as well, and can eat it whenever you want to. The day of the surgery is an exception – no food and drinks should be on the day of the operation, and 6 hours after it.

Cleaning of your bed is done by the personnel, you will be given sleeping clothing.

Please think about that whatever may disturb you, it may disturb others. Visitors should come only during visiting hours. Radio, portable mini tv, mobile phones are allowed but should kept quiet, so you do not disturb other patients.

Free WiFi is available at the Orthopaedic Clinic – ask the personnel for the password.

For how long di I have to stay in hospital after the surgery?
Discharge is determined by your physician. Typically you can leave hospital after 5 to 10 days in case of prostheses, 1 to 2 days in case of forefoot and hand correction surgeries, 1 to 2 days after arthroscopy.

You can leave on the same day in case of day-case surgeries, usually in the afternoon or evening, but it can be only 1 to 2 hours if only local anesthesia was applied. You are asked to stay for the night only if there is a serious reason.

After discharge, you will be given a final report containing all the important data on the surgical procedure. The document may contain suggestions for further therapy (eg. physiotherapy), but further actions may have to be taken by your family doctor – for example we cannot send you directly to another rehabilitation institute.

What happens after the surgery?
Your surgery may go along with a few disturbancies. Pain is inevitable. Painkillers given by the doctors may differ from patient to patient. It is imortant that you inform your doctor about the extent of the pain you feel, so that the best painkilling method can be chosen for you.

Painkillers for home can be prescribed by your hospital doctor and also by your family doctor.

The bandage on your surgery wound is not water resistant, you should keep it clean and dry. Wet or bloody bandages should be replaced as soon as possible.

Many times the wound gets swollen, and even bleeding. This is only temorary, but goes along with pain. This type of pain can be relieved by ice-therapy: put ice (or frosen vegetable packs) into a towel, and push it to the affected part of your body for 15-20 minutes. You can repeat the process every 2-3 hours.

Loading ability of the joint (limb) can differ from surgery to surgery. Your final report will contain information on this.

Stiches are removed at the Orthopaedic Department. At this occasion you also recieve information on how the joint should be loaded, when you can return to work etc. After removal of stiches, little water is not harmful for the wound (you can take a shower) but bathing or going swimming is not proposed for about a week.

After most of the surgeries, so called anticoagulant medication is given for the patients preventing thrombosis to develop. In some cases it is given as a pill, in some cases it is an injection. The injection can be given by yourself after you are thought how to use it. A strip or compression stockings should be used along with this medication.

When you are at home, and feel sudden pain, hotness, or reddened skin, you should go back to the hospital immediately to prevent further adverse reactions.

How long is the recovery after a total hip replacement surgery?
You may get up from bed one day after the surgery. The physiotherapist will guide you what movements to make. You’ll spent 5 to 10 days in hospital after the surgery.

After leaving the hospital you will need further excercise to strengthen your muscles. For 2 to 3 months you will need a crunch to walk. After the total recovery period of 3 months you can start to fully weigh your limb.