
Hand surgeon David Friedman, MD, FACS, answers your questions about preparing for an upcoming hand surgery.
1. Will I need medical clearance before surgery? What other tests might I need?
Medical clearance may require a visit to your primary care physician and/or a specialist like a cardiologist or pulmonologist. Whether or not you require medical clearance depends on many factors including your age, medical history, and the type of surgery and anesthesia you are having. You may require blood work, an EKG, and/or a chest X-ray. For some types of surgery and depending upon your age and health status, no pre-operative clearance or testing may be needed.