Chesterfield Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Dr. Scott E. Geiger

Office: 314.205.6420 Hospital Exchange: 314.364.4176
Jaw Fracture Post-Operative Discharge Instructions

Diet:
Do a clear liquid diet (water, apple juice, gatorade, broth) for the first 2 days postoperatively
to avoid proteinaceous foods/material from getting in your incision repair line.

After 2 days, begin jaw fracture diet - recommendations and examples listed below.
Anything that is non-chew (pudding, applesauce, yogurt, etc) or that can be blended and
sucked through a straw (including protein shakes) is acceptable

Wound Care:
Very important after each meal to rinse your mouth with water, then swish Peridex mouth
rinse around for 30 seconds and spit out. This will help clean your teeth and decrease
infection risks.
No brushing your teeth until specifically cleared by your surgeon as the lining of your mouth
that is sutured closed is very fragile.
Do NOT smoke or use tobacco products. It WILL impair your healing and increase your
complications.

It is okay to remove other bandages (if present) and shower in 48 hours with indirect water
onto these incisions or repairs (soap and water can lightly run over area, but do not soak
area or submerge under water). After your shower, pat area dry and apply antibiotic
ointment to these areas 2-3 times daily for one week. Cover if desired with band aid or
other non-stick pad (telfa) and tape.

Drain Care (if present):

Empty all drains at least daily, and/or when the bulb gets half full (50mL). Initially you may
need to do this several times per day, but it will lessen as your body begins to heal.
Have someone help you with this.
Note how much fluid is in the drain bulb prior to emptying. Record these drain outputs each
time (recommend using log sheet provided). Bring recording of daily totals to your follow-
up office visit.
To begin, wash your hands with soap and water
Use one hand to hold the tubing tightly near your body (to prevent pulling out the tube). Put
a small drop of water or soap on the thumb & index finger of your other hand, pinch the
tubing and squeeze the fluid through the tubing toward the bulb.
Open drain bulb cap, record volume, and pour out drainage into a clean measuring cup.
Flush drainage down toilet.
Squeeze the bulb tight and replace the cap to restart suction.
Secure the bulb(s) to clothing, bra, or binder so there is no tugging on the drain tubing.
Anticipate the color to slowly change from a deep red, to a lighter pink/red, and finally a
yellowish watery color. It is normal for several large pieces of bloody clot to make their
way through the tubing throughout your drain course.
- If drainage becomes heavy (more than 200mL per drain in one day) or has redness or
swelling at the incision or drain site(s), notify Dr. Geiger as soon as possible.
Activity:
No strenuous activity or straining until cleared by Dr. Geiger at follow-up.
Do not lift anything heavier than 5-10 pounds (a gallon of milk).
Avoid activities that may risk injury to your surgical site.
No driving while taking narcotic pain medications.
Keep head elevated above your shoulders at all times for next 3 days.
Keep wire cutters on your person at all times in case of airway emergency (vomiting,
seizure, or loss of consciousness). They can be used by yourself or someone else to cut
the wires going up and down from your lower jaw to upper jaw.

Medications: See Patient Visit Summary for list of medications. Take all of your antibiotic(s) as
prescribed. Avoid Aspirin and NSAIDs (motrin, advil, ibuprofen, aleve) for the first week after
surgery, then okay to start taking.

Pain medication: You may be prescribed Percocet or Norco for postoperative pain unless
allergic or intolerant. If you don’t have liquid pain medicine, the tablets can be crushed
and mixed with water or juice.

Antibiotic: You will likely have an antibiotic to take for 5-10 days after surgery.

If you are taking narcotic pain medications you may experience some constipation. Drink plenty
of water and eat plenty of fiber in your diet. Consider a fiber supplement such as Metamucil®,
FiberCon®, or Citrucel®. It is okay to take over the counter stool softeners once or twice daily
such as Docusate or Colace® found at your local drug store.

Follow up: Dr. Geiger in 7-10 days. Call office for specific appointment date and time if you do
not already have one.
Office contact number: 314-205-6420

Other Instructions:
Should you experience any of these symptoms call the office:
-Fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit or greater
-Persistent pain, nausea, or vomiting.
-Persistent bleeding.
-Shortness of breath.
-Significant redness or drainage from your incision.
-Significant leg swelling or calf pain
-Any other questions or concerns.

During business hours (8am – 5pm) call:

Chesterfield Plastic Surgery Office: 314-205-6420

On nights or weekends call:

Hospital exchange: 314-364-4176

Seek immediate medical care (ER or call 911) if:

-You have difficulty breathing.
-You feel like your airway is closing or hear a high-pitched sound when you try and breathe.
-Problems have forced you to cut the wires holding your upper and lower teeth together.
 General Postsurgical Instructions

You may expect to feel dizzy, weak, and drowsy for as long as 24 hours after receiving the
medicine that made you sleep (anesthetic). The following information pertains to your recovery
period for the first 24 hours following surgery.
Do not drive a car, ride a bicycle, participate in physical activities, or take public
transportation until you are done taking narcotic pain medicines or as directed by your
caregiver.
Do not drink alcohol or take tranquilizers.
Do not take medicine that has not been prescribed by your caregiver.
Do not sign important papers or make important decisions while on narcotic pain medicines.
Have a responsible person with you.

Fractured Jaw Diet

This diet should be used after jaw or mouth surgery, wired jaw surgery, or dental surgery. The
consistency of foods in this diet should be thin enough to be sipped from a straw or given
through a syringe. It is important to consume enough calories and protein to prevent weight loss
and promote healing after surgery. You will need to have 3 meals and 3 snacks daily.
It is important to eat from a variety of food groups. Foods you normally eat may be blended to
the correct texture.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR BLENDING FOODS

Prepare foods by removing skins, seeds, and peels.
Cook meats and vegetables thoroughly. Avoid using raw eggs. Powdered or pasteurized
egg mixtures may be used.
Cut foods into small pieces and mix with a small amount of liquid in a food processor or
blender. Continue to add liquids until foods becomes thin enough to sip through a straw.
Add juice, milk, cream, broth, gravy, or vegetable juice to add flavor and thin foods.
Blending foods sometimes causes air bubbles that may not be desirable. Heating foods after
blending will reduce the foam produced from blending.

HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS
If you are losing weight, you may need to add extra calories to your food by:
Adding powdered milk or protein powder to food.
Adding extra fats, such as tub margarine, sour cream, cream cheese, cream, nut butters
(such as peanut butter or almond butter), and half-and-half.
Adding sweets, such as honey, ice cream, black strap molasses, or sugar.
Your teeth and mouth may be sensitive to extreme temperatures. Heat or cool your foods
only to lukewarm or cool temperatures.
Stock your pantry with a variety of liquid nutritional supplement drinks.
Take a liquid multivitamin to ensure you are getting adequate nutrients.
Use baby food if you are short on time or energy.
FOOD GROUP CHOICES - ALL FOODS MUST BE BLENDED
STARCHES Hot cereals, such as oatmeal, grits, ground wheat
4 servings or more cereals, and polenta.
Mashed potatoes.
VEGETABLES All vegetables and vegetable juices.
3 servings or more
FRUIT All fruits and fruit juices.
2 servings or more
MEAT AND Soft-boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, cottage cheese,
SUBSTITUTES cheese sauce.
2 servings or more Ground meats, such as hamburger, turkey, sausage,
(6 oz/day) meatloaf.
Custard, baby food meat.
MILK Liquid, powdered, or evaporated milk.
2 cups or equivalent Buttermilk or chocolate milk.
Drinkable yogurt.
Sherbert, ice cream, milkshakes, eggnog, pudding, and
liquid supplements.
BEVERAGES Coffee (regular or decaffeinated), tea, and mineral water.
Liquid supplements.
CONDIMENTS All seasonings and condiments that blend well.

Document Released: 06/07/2011

ExitCare® Patient Information ©2012 ExitCare, LLC.

Jaw Fracture PostOp Instructions - Dr Geiger

SLE-0135
Rev: 09/2016