Objective To explore the current status of digital health literacy among elderly orthopedic perioperative patients and its influencing factors, and to provide a basis for optimizing perioperative management and improving patients’ health management level. Methods Utilizing convenience sampling, elderly orthopedic perioperative patients from China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University were chosen as the subjects between January and April 2024. For the purpose of the questionnaire investigation, the orthopedic patient functional exercise compliance scale, eHealth Literacy Scale, Social Support Rating Scale, and general information questionnaire were utilized. We employed univariate analysis and multiple linear stratified regression to investigate the factors influencing digital health literacy. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to explore the interrelationships among variables. Results A total of 143 patients were investigated. Among them, there were 53 males and 90 females. The average age was (69.91±6.35) years old. The average score of the eHealth Literacy Scale was (18.25±9.45) points, the average score of the Social Support Rating Scale was (38.44±7.76) points, and the average score of the orthopedic patient functional exercise compliance scale was (55.16±14.28) points. The determinants of digital health literacy in older orthopedic perioperative patients were social support and educational attainment (P<0.05). Social support and functional exercise adherence were mediated, in part, by digital health literacy (P<0.001). Conclusions The digital health literacy in elderly orthopedic perioperative is generally at a low level. Healthcare professionals need to pay particular attention to patients with lower levels of education. Meanwhile, efforts should be made to enhance patients’ social support from multiple dimensions, in order to improve their digital health literacy and lay a solid foundation for the precise implementation of digital health management during the perioperative.