Your child had surgery to repair an OCD lesion in the elbow joint. An osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesion is a small area of damaged bone and cartilage that can become loose or pull away from the rest of the bone.

Follow the care team's instructions to help your child heal from the surgery.

Follow your surgeon's instructions for:

• Giving your child any medicines for pain. This may include acetaminophen (Tylenol^® or a store brand), ibuprofen (Advil^®, Motrin^®, or a store brand), or prescription pain medicine. Some prescription pain medicines include the same or similar ingredients as those you can buy without a prescription. To avoid your child getting too much, give the medicines exactly as your surgeon recommends.
• Whether to remove any bandages or the splint.
• Using a sling, if recommended.
• How to clean the area. 
• When your child can use the elbow.
• What exercises and movements your child should do.
• Whether your child needs to go to physical therapy (PT). 
• What activities your child needs to avoid and when they can expect to go back to full activity and sports.
• If your child drives, when they can do so again. 
• When it's OK for your child to take a shower (usually 2–3 days after surgery) and if your child needs to cover the incisions during showers. Avoid putting the elbow fully under water (for example, in a bath or pool) until the surgeon says it's OK.
• What to do if your child has a fever.
• When to have a follow-up visit.

For the first few days after the surgery:

• Use pillows to raise the elbow above heart level when your child is sitting or lying down.
• When your child is awake, put a cold pack or plastic bag of ice wrapped in a towel on the elbow splint or bandage for 20 minutes every 3 hours. Don't put ice directly on the skin, bandage, or splint.
• If your child's elbow is swollen or feels tingly or numb, loosen the splint or bandage slightly and raise the elbow above heart level.

Your child:

• Can't pee by the evening after the surgery
• Gets a fever 
• Has swelling or numbness that isn't helped by loosening the bandage and raising the arm
• Has pain that isn't helped by the pain medicine
• Has blood or fluid draining from the incisions

Your child has:

• Chest pain or is short of breath
• Arm pain or swelling that's getting worse

When can someone return to activities after surgery for OCD of the elbow? It's important to be fully healed before returning to normal activities. Generally, this may take 6 months or longer. Follow the care team's instructions about when and how to gradually increase using the elbow.