Patient Info | Orthowood

Outpatient Visits

Out-patient clinic is located on Tel: 1.905.521.2100 ext 47700 Dr Wood Office

Tel. 1.905.521.2100 ext 43331 for out-patient clinic.

Muti-level covered Parking is available across the street from the hospital and there is a drop off bay at the main entrance.

Clinic is immediately to your right on coming through the main entrance and can be found to the left of the elevators. Clinic entrance on your right sign posted Orthopedic Fracture Clinic.

Be sure to bring a list of all your medications, Ontario Health card and any imaging you may have or been asked to provide. Wear loose clothing or bring shorts to change into to make examination easier and more comfortable for you.

You may be required to have X-rays taken prior to being seen, this department is available at the same location and you will be directed by staff.

Dr. Wood works at a teaching hospital and is responsible for the education and training of our future orthopaedic surgeons. It is likely you will also be seen by medical students called “Clerks” or junior surgeons in training called “Residents”. A senior trainee surgeon doing a specialist year of surgery with Dr. Wood is already qualified and may be referred to as a “Fellow”.

Prior to Your Surgery

Once you have been listed for surgery your details are placed on an electronic wait list by Dr. Wood.

Closer to the date of your operation, you will be contacted by Dr. Wood’s office with a proposed date for surgery. If this date is suitable, your date will be scheduled. We are able to accommodate patients’ schedules and do our best to find a date that suits. Communication at this time is essential. Once the date has been fixed it is difficult to reschedule.

You will then receive a call from our pre-operative assessment team or be asked to attend the Urgent Care Center/Pre-Op clinic , 690 Main Street West, L8S 1A4 Hamilton.

Please download the Pre-Surgical Screening Instructions. All joint replacement patients will be expected to do this. It entails a detailed evaluation and education session on your up and coming surgery and organization of your rehabilitation and discharge plan.

Important: don’t eat after midnight before your surgery. You may drink water only up until the morning of surgery.

On the day of surgery at Juravinski Hospital, report to Same Day Admission Centre, take elevator on right having entered main entarnce and take elevator to basement.

More details of what to do before and after surgery can be downloaded and printed for your convenience:

Video: Pre-habilitaion exercises and getting in shape for surgery.

Pre-Op Check List:

Health Card
Private insurance cards
All medications in their original containers
Hearing aids
Dentures and containers
house coat, slippers, loose clothing, toiletries (if staying over)
DO NOT bring valuables, remove all jewellery
DO NOT bring aids unless instructed to do so.

Patient walking with walking aid after surgery.

After Your Surgery

If you are having day surgery, you will be discharged home with a script for pain medication, instructions on dressing changes, wound care and follow up appointments including physiotherapy recommendations. Patients requiring a hospital stay will be cared for daily by nurses, physio therapists and doctors including an acute pain management service. Prior to discharge patients will be seen by Occupational therapy, Social work and home care as needed.

Patients are expected to be discharged home the same day or next following routine surgery. Make sure you have a discharge plan in place before surgery to help with home support after discharge from Hospital.

Patients should be able to walk by themselves, toilet and dress using aids, manage stairs, transfer safely around the home and in and out of vehicles. Please note after joint replacement surgery you are not allowed to drive for 6 weeks.

For more helpful information to further assist you after your surgery, please view this summary of Post-Operative concerns.

Post-Op Checklist

Discharge prescription
Letter Family Physician
Anticoagulation protocol
Scheduled follow-up appointment
Joint certificate (if applicable)
Aids
Instructions on pain management
Identifying wound or other complications
Discharge pamphlet

Patient Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation protocols are available for total hip and knee replacement and hip arthroscopy patients.

Details of Total hip and knee replacement rehabilitation are also found in the information booklet for that surgery. Most physio practices in the Hamilton area should be aware of Dr. Wood and his protocols but can be directed to this site for updates.

Patients having primary joint replacement will be expected to be full weight bearing from day 1 and, at follow-up 6 weeks after surgery, should be walking unaided and comfortable making progress with rehabilitation. After 6 weeks patients will be progressed to driving, swimming, cycling and more intense activities with a view to be near full activity and back to work or similar by 12 weeks. Certain restrictions do apply dependent on what type of surgery was undertaken and more details will be provided at your follow-up visit and on an individual basis.

Be aware that there are recommendations with regards to travel, dental work and other cautions following surgery. These can be found under Patient Info, in the downloadable booklet and specific questions and answers can be found in our FAQ section.

Please be advised if you have any concerns in the recovery period and particularly wound issues DO NOT HESITATE to call Dr. Wood’s office or have your doctor call him. It is critical problems are detected early and dealt with by Dr. Wood.

If you have a joint replacement you must not take antibiotics for a wound complication unless directed by Dr. Wood.

Download rehabilitation protocol details for the following surgeries:

Patient Information