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FAQs
Reconstructive Orthopaedics
Before Surgery
I think I need joint replacement surgery. Where do I start?
You should begin with your family doctor, or current orthopaedic specialist if you have one. First you need an x-ray, and then a referral can be made, if needed, to an orthopaedic specialist. The specialist will give you an initial assessment for joint replacement surgery.
I want to hire my own physiotherapist, and I can afford this. Where do I begin?
Please feel free to research private physiotherapists through the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario.
Is it true I should avoid seeing my dentist close to surgery?
Yes, this is true, due to increased risk of infection we would recommend you not go for dental cleaning or other procedures for 3 months before or after surgery.
Where do I stay the night before if I am from out of town?
Please contact Mount Sinai Hospital’s Social Work Department Office Manager Barb Beveridge at 416-586-4800 ext. 8337. Barb may be able to arrange Toronto hotel accommodations at a special rate.
As someone from out of town, where can I find transportation to the hospital which will accommodate my wheelchair/walker?
Please check with your hospital orthopaedic Social Worker, or call TTC Wheel-Trans Customer Service at 416-393-4111. Please see our Links section for further information.
Your Hospital stay
What do I need to bring with me for my stay in hospital?
Please refer to our Patient Guides.
Am I allowed to bring my laptop to the hospital?
You are allowed, however we encourage you to keep in mind that Mount Sinai is not responsible for any lost or misplaced belongings. With many patients and their families coming and going, an expensive devise like a laptop can easily go missing or get stolen.
Where do I keep expensive belongings?
Please remember that Mount Sinai is not responsible for lost or stolen items. We encourage you to leave such belongings at home or with a family member. If this is not an option for you, Mount Sinai Hospital Security can hold such things as money, credit cards or wallets.
Can someone stay with me when I am in the hospital?
We support Patient and Family-Centred Care, which includes ensuring patients have as much support and involvement from families as possible. We need to balance this priority with respect for privacy, rest and recovery of all our patients. It is for this reason that we do not normally allow a family member to stay in a patient’s room.
Exceptions can be made for those staying in a private room at Mount Sinai. Please look into such accommodations at the time of your admission to hospital, when it is most clear to us which rooms are available during your stay.
How long will I be in the hospital?
If this is the first time your joint has been replaced, and you are going directly home, you will be in hospital a maximum of 5 days after surgery.
Should you be having a revision of your joint replacement, you may be in hospital up to 7 days after surgery before going home. Should you require inpatient rehabilitation, all joint replacement patients only stay at Mount Sinai for 3 days after surgery before being transferred to their rehab hospital.
Medications
Do I need to bring my medications to the hospital, at admission for surgery?
No. The hospital will be providing your medications(s) during your stay at Mount Sinai with the following exceptions:
- You may be asked to bring your own supply of medication(s) by a Pre-admission Unit pharmacist as some medications are not available at the Hospital.
- If you did not see a pharmacist at the Pre-admission unit, please bring all your medications in original bottles to the hospital, including:
- prescription medications (including patches, eye drops, creams, etc.)
- non-prescription medications (Over the counter products)
- vitamins/supplements
- herbals
- your pharmacy phone number(s)
Can I use my own vitamins, herbal products during hospital stay?
Please address this question with a pharmacist during pre-admission appointment. If you did not see a pharmacist at Pre-admission unit, please ask to speak to a pharmacist on the floor when admitted. All medications, including vitamins, herbals, etc. should be reviewed by the pharmacist and the team prior to using them in the hospital.
What is enoxaparin (Lovenox™)?
Patients undergoing a major orthopaedic surgery, such as knee or hip surgery, are at risk of deep vein thrombosis, which are blood clots. Enoxaparin (Lovenox™) is a drug to prevent blood clots from forming. Most patients will receive this drug after surgery for a brief period of time.
How long will I have to take enoxaparin (Lovenox™) after surgery?
Length of enoxaparin treatment usually ranges from 10-21 days depending on the type of surgery and individual assessment is required to guide treatment duration. You will be informed of treatment duration during your hospital stay.
How much will enoxaparin (Lovenox™) cost? What do I do if I can’t afford it?
Enoxaparin is paid for while you are receiving it during the Mount Sinai Hospital stay or any other rehabilitation facilities. If you are going home after discharge, you will have to cover the cost.
For prevention of blood clots, it is not listed under Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB). This means that, if you have ODB coverage (if over age of 65) or social assistance or disability assistance, it will not be covered. Most private drug insurance companies do cover the cost of enoxaparin. Please call them to verify the coverage. Find out more about enoxaparin and medications during your stay »
Assistance after surgery
Do I qualify for rehab?
Nearly 80% of people getting joint replacements or revisions go home. There are some medical reasons which may warrant a stay in a rehabilitation hospital after surgery. In the Pre-Admission Unit you will meet with a social worker to discuss your eligibility for rehab.
What is CCAC and how do they help me after surgery?
CCAC stands for Community Care Access Centre. A CCAC worker will meet with you before you are discharged from Mount Sinai, to determine with you and your health-care team if you require CCAC service.
What if I need to get in contact with CCAC once I am home?
When a CCAC co-ordinator sees you at Mount Sinai Hospital, you are given a phone number for your local CCAC.
How does my hospital social worker’s assistance differ from CCAC?
Your social worker is available to you from your Pre-Admission Unit appointment date until you are discharged from hospital. CCAC service is provided after you leave the hospital, and could include social work support, physiotherapy, nursing, occupational therapy, a dietician or speech language pathologist.
Can I continue receiving my salary while off work for medical reasons?
Check with your employer to see if you are eligible for any Short Term Disability Benefits. If not, check to see if Employment Insurance Sickness Benefits are an option. If you are encountering financial difficulties related to time off work due to this surgery, please contact your hospital Social Worker for assistance.
How can I get an appointment with an outpatient physiotherapy clinic after my CCAC physiotherapy treatments are done?
You will require a referral from either your family doctor or your orthopaedic surgeon for this treatment. A good time to determine this need is upon your first post operative appointment, at which time your orthopaedic specialist will be able to discuss with you whether more physiotherapy is advisable.
Costs
What am I responsible for in terms of paying for items required after surgery?
Because you are having a pre-planned surgery, you are responsible for the purchase of all your necessary medical equipment and medication. This includes a wedge cushion for hip patients and an immobilization knee splint for knee patients.
Can I go home by ambulance? How much does this cost me?
Nearly all of our joint replacement patients travel home by car, minivan or SUV after surgery, and we strongly encourage you to have your transportation planned as much in advance as possible. In rare circumstances, an ambulance can be used for medical safety reasons.
If you are traveling within Toronto and require an ambulance for medical reasons, the cost will be $45. If you are traveling out of town, the cost can be over $700. For those more than 4 hours away, an air ambulance can be arranged at no cost.
What does it cost me to take an ambulance to rehab?
This is considered a medically necessary trip from hospital to hospital, therefore travel to rehab is currently not billed to patients.
I can’t afford my medications. What can I do?
Please mention this concern to your pharmacist during your Pre-Admission Unit appointment, or at the very latest when you are admitted to your hospital inpatient unit.
Recovery and long-term adjustments
When can I go back to work?
This varies depending on the amount physical labour in your job. The average time off work is 3 to 6 months.
How soon after hip replacement surgery can I be intimate with my partner?
You may be intimate with your partner immediately following surgery, as long as you maintain your hip precautions.
When do I have to come back to see my orthopaedic specialist?
For total knee replacements, you are usually seen 2 weeks after surgery, and for total hip replacements you are usually seen 6 weeks after surgery.
*Depending on your orthopaedic specialist, and your specific medical needs, these time frames may differ. Please call your surgeon’s office after surgery to arrange this important appointment.
What medical equipment will I need after surgery?
Please refer to your Patient Guide and speak to your physiotherapist and/or occupational therapist at Mount Sinai after surgery.
Where can I get this medical equipment? (i.e., walker, bath bench)
Please ask to speak with an occupational therapist or social worker, who will be able to connect you to your local medical equipment vendors.
How long do I need to keep my equipment?
Usually up to 3 months.
When can I drive?
Normally, 3 months after surgery, but you will need to check with your surgeon for legal reasons before driving again.
Please note: If you have an accident, your insurance will not cover you if you are driving against doctor’s orders.
Am I eligible for a Disabled Parking Permit? How do I go about getting this?
Depending on your difficulty walking, you might qualify for a temporary Disabled Parking Permit. Ask your surgeon if this applies to you. Your inpatient Social Worker can assist you with gaining this form and getting it completed.
Can my implant set off an alarm when going through airport security?
This does not often happen, however if you are concerned, request a note from your doctor verifying your recent surgery.
If I can't drive, how will I get to my appointments?
If you live in Toronto and are physically unable to commute using public transportation or taxi cabs, you may qualify for a temporary Wheel-Trans registration number. Please call 416-393-4111 to arrange an assessment.
If you live out of town, please call 211 and ask about local Para-transit or medical transportation services. Your hospital social worker can also help you with finding these services.