Why is this procedure done?
A continuous passive motion machine is also known as CPM. A CPM is a machine that helps you to slowly and gently flex and extend your joint after surgery. CPM may help keep a body part constantly moving at a very slow speed. Most often, a doctor will use this after a knee surgery. A doctor may also order it for some other joint in the leg, arm, or shoulder. ‚
What will the results be?
A CPM machine may: ‚
- Help to keep normal range of motion
- Lessen:
- Pain
- Joint stiffness
- Swelling
- Scarring
- Improve blood flow and healing
- Promote cartilage growth
- Lower the chances of needing more surgery to assist in the ability to have motion in the joint
What care is needed at home?
- Ask the doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what to do.
- Be sure you understand how to work your CPM machine. Keep the number of the company who supplied your machine on hand for any questions. Ask your doctor:
- How many hours and how many times per day you should use the CPM. Your doctor may want you to use the CPM machine 3 times each day. Each session with the CPM machine may last 1 to 3 hours.
- How many degrees of motion you should set on your machine. This will tell the machine how much to bend and straighten your joint.
- How many degrees you should add each day to the setting. You will likely add a few degrees each day.
- Based on the kind of CPM machine, you may need to be sitting up or lying down. Find a comfortable place to use your CPM machine. Make sure you have everything you need including phone, notepad, remote control, etc.
- Line your joint up with the hinges on the machine.
- Follow the instructions on your machine. Call your supplier if you are having trouble operating the machine.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Sudden shortness of breath or a sudden onset of chest pain could be a sign that a blood clot has traveled to your lungs. Go to the ER right away.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Increased pain
- Increased numbness or tingling in the affected limb
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚