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Pre-Surgical Total Joint Shower Guidelines
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Pre-Surgical Total Joint Shower Guidelines

Pre-Surgical Total Joint Shower Guidelines

Your whole body is going into the sterile (clean) operating room. You will need to be as clean as possible to help prevent infection. We ask that you buy a special soap with CHLORHEXIDINE in it. Hibiclens © is the brand name, but generic brands are less money. You will need to buy about 8 ounces.

If you are having your shoulder replaced, you will also need to buy 2.5% benzoyl peroxide gel.  These can be found at your local pharmacy and most food stores.

The special soap works best when it is repeated, so you will need to shower with it for 3 evenings before AND the morning of your surgery for a total of 4 showers. Once you start using it, do not use any powders, perfumes, or lotions as these can affect the special soap’s ability to kill germs. For shoulder replacement patients, you may not use deodorant. You must NOT shave the area that is being operated on for the 2 days before surgery.

NOTE

Your washcloths, towels, pajamas, bed sheets, and clothes must all be freshly washed.

  • Benzoyl peroxide may stain or fade clothes.

Use a fresh washcloth and towel for each shower and put on clean pajamas each night.
Keep pets out of your bed for the 3 days prior to surgery and after surgery until your incision has fully healed.

In the Shower 

  • Rinse with WARM water. Turn the water off and stay in the shower.
  • Using a freshly cleaned washcloth, apply the special soap from the neck down.
  • Pay special attention to the area where you will have surgery (but women should avoid the internal genital area because this may irritate the area). Wash armpits, navel, groin and external genital areas and any areas under skin folds.
  • Wait 2 minutes so the special soap can kill the germs and then rinse off with WARM water. Gently dry with a freshly washed towel.
  • If having a shoulder replaced, also apply two half dollar-sized amounts of 2.5% benzoyl peroxide gel to the side you will have your surgery. Make sure to cover the upper chest/back, neck, armpit, and arm to the elbow on that side. Do not rinse off. Wash your hands with soap and water when finished.