English

Orkuhúsið has moved to new premises at Urðarhvarf 8

OPENING HOURS

Open for patient reception and telephone answering from 08:00 to 16:00 Monday-Thursday, and from 08:00 to 15:00 on Fridays.

Tel: 520 0100

LOCATION

 

The reception for interviews and examinations is on the 6th floor.

The operating rooms are also located on the 6th floor and there is a private reception for patients arriving for surgery.

BOOKINGS

A referral from a GP is required for an appointment with one of our orthopaedic surgeons. Referrals are received electronically or in paper form. A secretary will then contact the client to book an appointment.

In order to provide the best possible service, it is important that examinations and/or imaging has been carried out by the health care service before the interview. Referrals are generally valid for one year from the date of issue unless expressly stated otherwise.

OPERATIONS

Information for patients before surgery

with the involvement of an anaesthesiologist & under anaesthesia

 

Under anaesthesia

Before the operation

  • Stop taking blood thinners one week before surgery, in consultation with the doctor responsible for the treatment, unless otherwise prescribed by the surgeon.
  • Other medicines can be taken as usual, including on the day of surgery.
  • In case of hand surgery, rings should be removed from the hand to be operated on 2 days before the operation. Remove nail polish and all jewelry, and showerin the morning of the operation day.
  • Do not apply oils or creams to your body and do not use perfumes.
  • It's best to wear comfortable clothing that's easy to take off and put on.
  • Fasting is not necessary.
  • Have your phone with you before the procedure because you may receive a call to let you know that the procedure will be earlier or later than scheduled.
  • When you arrive at Orkuhúsið’s surgery wing, you’ll meet the surgeon, who gives you an anaesthetic.
  • While you're waiting for the operation, you can look at your phone or listen to content from it if you bring small headphones with you. You can neither talk on your phone nor take photos in the surgery wing.

After the operation

  • After a hand operation, you leave the operating table and go directly home. After foot surgery, you recover in a side room in Orkuhúsið before going home.
  • You are advised not to driveon the day of the operation.
  • It is good to keep the limb in a high position, to the extent possible, for the first few days after the operation in order to reduce inflammation.
  • There will be some discomfort at the point of surgery for the first few days or weeks. It is usually enough to take pain medicine such as Panodil and anti-inflammatory agents such as Ibufen. These drugs can be bought without a prescription. In other cases, the surgeon will prescribe more potent medicine.
  • You can shower, but the bandages must be protected with a plastic bag. However, after minor hand surgery, the wound may be rinsed briefly with clean running water as of the third day after surgery.
  • Contact your surgeon if you have unexpected hand problems, such as severe pain, severe bleeding or increased body temperature.

 

With the involvement of an anaesthesiologist

Before the operation

  • Stop taking blood thinners one week before surgery, in consultation with the doctor responsible for the treatment.
  • In the morning of the day of the operation, take your medicines, with the exception of blood thinners and other medicines that your surgeon may have specified.
  • You must have refrained from eating or drinking anything for at least 6 hours before the operation. You may drink 1 glass of clear liquid 2 hours before your arrival. Clear liquids include water, coffee (without milk), and pure fruit juice. You may also take a few sips of water with the necessary medicines one hour before the procedure.
  • You may not smoke, or use chewing gum or chewing tobacco at least two hours before the operation.
  • In case of hand surgery, rings should be removed from the hand to be operated on 2 days before the operation. Remove nail polish and all jewelry, and shower in the morning of the operation day.
  • Do not apply oils or creams to your body and do not use perfumes. It's best to wear comfortable clothing that's easy to take off and put on.
  • Have your phone with you before the procedure because you may receive a call to let you know that the procedure will be earlier or later than scheduled. Photography is not allowed. The phone is turned off during the operation. Calls are not allowed in the post-surgery room except for calls asking to be picked up.
  • When you arrive at Orkuhúsið’s surgery wing, you will see a surgeon and an anaesthetist before the operation.

After the operation

  • After the operation, you will recover in the post-surgery room. Once you have recovered sufficiently, your surgeon will talk to you and you will be allowed to go home.
  • There will usually be some discomfort in the operation area during the first few days or weeks. In some cases it is enough to take pain medicine such as Panodil and anti-inflammatory agents such as Ibufen. These drugs can be bought without a prescription. In other instances, the surgeon will prescribe drugs in an interview before the operation or when the patient is discharged.
  • Due to the anaesthetics, you may not drivefor 24 hours after surgery.
  • You can shower, but the bandages must be protected with a plastic bag.
  • Contact your surgeon if you have unexpected hand problems, such as severe pain, severe bleeding or increased body temperature.