Operation Duration
Hospital Stay
Total Stay
Anesthesia
Approximate Recovery
Hip Replacement
Hip Replacement Surgery
If your hip has been damaged by arthritis, a fracture, or other conditions, common activities such as walking or getting in and out of a chair may be painful and difficult. Your hip may be stiff, and it may be hard to put on your shoes and socks. You may even feel uncomfortable while resting.
If medications, changes in your everyday activities, and the use of walking supports do not adequately help your symptoms, you may consider hip replacement surgery. Hip replacement surgery is a safe and effective procedure that can relieve your pain, increase motion, and help you get back to enjoying normal, everyday activities.
Hip replacement surgery is one of the most successful operations in all of medicine.
Who is a good candidate for knee replacement surgery?
People who experience the following are good candidates for the surgery:
• Hip pain that limits everyday activities such as walking or bending
• Hip pain that continues while resting,
• Stiffness in a hip which limits the ability to move or lift the leg
• Inadequate pain relief through anti-inflammatory drugs, physio- therapy, or walking supports
Preoperative Evaluation
During the preoperative evaluation, the following will be examined:
• Medical history. Your orthopaedic surgeon will gather information about your general health and ask you about the extent of your hip pain,
• Physical examination. The surgeon will assess hip motion, stability, strength, and overall alignment.
• X-rays. These images help to determine the damage and deformity in your hip.
• Other tests. Occasionally blood tests or advanced imaging, such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may be needed to determine the condition of the bone and soft tissues of your hip.
Surgical Procedure
The surgery requires anesthesia. It can be general anesthesia or spinal anesthesia.
You'll be given an intravenous antibiotic before, during and after the procedure to help prevent post-surgical infection.
The surgery lasts about two hours.
Recovery Process
The success of your surgery will depend in large measure on how well you follow your orthopaedic surgeon's instructions during the first few weeks after surgery.
You will start walking the following day and you'll likely receive blood thinners and wear support hose or compression boots to further protect against swelling and clotting.
You'll be asked to do frequent exercises and gradually increase your activity level. A physical therapist will show you how to exercise your new knee. After you leave the hospital, you'll continue physio- therapy at home or at a center.
