Preparing for Elective Orthopaedic Surgery (EOS)

Your haemophilia care centre team will likely be involved in all stages of the planning, execution, recovery and rehabilitation after surgery; but who are they?

If you or a loved one has made the decision to go ahead with EOS then we want to help you with some pre-surgery preparations. You can find more detailed information the ACT EOS Planning tool.

Before surgery, your physiotherapist will teach you exercises to strengthen your body. These exercises will be personalised for you and the type of surgery you will be having. Sticking to your physiotherapy plan is crucial to getting the most out of your surgery.

These simple steps may help you to get ready for surgery and recover more quickly. Before your operation you should:

• Make sure any tooth or gum problems are fixed to reduce infection risk
• Eat healthily – but do not diet unless advised
• Cut down or quit smoking
• Do not drink alcohol for at least 2 days before surgery – your healthcare team may recommend avoiding alcohol for some time afterwards, too
• Tell your healthcare team if you get any infections the week before surgery – including a cold or fever

• Remove rugs/loose carpets and tidy cables so you do not trip over them
• Rearrange furniture to create room for wheelchairs/walking frames
• Consider installing a raised toilet/toilet seat and handrails, and putting a chair and grip bars in your bath/shower
• Set up an area where you can spend most of your recovery, with a bed or armchair, and a table for drink/food/TV remote/ books/telephone/radio, and a bin nearby
• Gather useful items such as a shoehorn, long-handled bath sponge and grabbing tool
• Freeze some healthy meals and buy disposable cutlery and dishes
• Apply for a temporary disabled parking permit

• Your healthcare team will guide you on how much time you need for rehabilitation after surgery
• You will need to rest and perform your exercises during this time to achieve your planned outcomes
• Your haemophilia nurse will be able to help you with getting a doctor’s certificate to show your employer/education institution
• Your employer or educational institution will be able to support you before, during and after surgery, especially if they have plenty of information and know how to support and what to look out for

Click QR codes below to access downloadable sheets to help in your discussions with your employer/education institution. You can print off the sheets by visiting the web.

If you would like further information or support on any of the points discussed on this page, please download the ACT EOS Planning tool.

This material is for educational and informative purposes only. It should not replace any advice or information provided by your haemophilia specialist and/or other healthcare professionals. Surgery in patients with haemophilia (with or without inhibitors) can carry specific risks that should be carefully assessed and discussed with your haemophilia specialist and multidisciplinary care team. Surgery in patients with haemophilia (with or without inhibitors) should always be done in consultation with a specialised haemophilia treatment centre.