Immediately After The Surgery
What happens immediately after the surgery?
The surgery can take between one to two hours. Immediately after the surgery you will rest in the recovery unit until you are more awake, before being taken to the inpatient ward.
It is normal to be sore around the knee, and the team will ensure you have enough pain medications available. This may involve tablets, injections given by the nursing team, or injections that you control (PCA). A PCA will give you a small volume of pain medications after you have pressed a button – keeping you in control.
You will have a white waterproof dressing on the wound and a bulky dressing around the knee, which will stay in place until the next day before the team looks at the wound on the ward. When the bulky dressing is removed, you will be given a stocking to wear on the operated leg. You may also have a ‘drip’ attached to your hand (or arm), which is giving you fluids to help hydration.
It is not unusual to have some difficulty to pass urine on the night of surgery so occasionally we may need to insert a tube into your bladder (catheter) to empty your bladder or monitor your urine. Once the team is satisfied with your urine production, the catheter will be removed.
What do I do when I am on the ward?
You will normally stay on the same ward for the duration of your stay.
During this time, you will be seen daily by the ward doctor or member of the Orthopaedic team to make sure you are recovering well, and blood tests and X-rays will be undertaken. They may examine your leg and review the wound to ensure there are no complications.
Medication that you were previously on will be restarted, and you will be given an injection or pill to reduce the risk of blood clots from forming in your leg or lungs (see risks above).
Part of the recovery from the surgery is regaining your mobility, and the Physiotherapists will see you regularly on the ward. They will encourage you to sit out of bed on the first day after your surgery (if the pain is well under control, and there are no complications).
Over the next few days they will aim to progress your mobility, as they help you mobilise with a frame or crutches, and give you an exercise program (further information regarding individual exercises is available from the Physiotherapy team).
When will I leave hospital?
The expected length of stay for a total hip replacement surgery is 2 – 3 days. When the doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and the nurses are happy with your progress you will be able to go home.
When you are discharged from hospital a pack will be made with all your medications. This will include the new painkillers and medication to thin your
blood. The medication to thin your blood should be continued for 28 days from your surgery, and your stockings must also be worn for this amount of time.
What should I expect when I am home?
When you are discharged from hospital a follow-up appointment will be made for you with the Orthopaedic team at 6 to 8 weeks. This will be sent to you in the post.
Your wound generally, will be closed with dissolvable stitches but you will be required to visit the nurse at your GP practice to check the wound and change the dressing if required (the nursing staff on the ward will give specific instructions before you leave hospital).
Not all hip replacement patients require physiotherapy after discharge but if you do, you will be informed by the physiotherapist on the ward. A referral will therefore be sent off on your behalf and you should expect to be contacted within 2 – 4 weeks.
It can take between 3 to 6 months to recover from the surgery. The pain associated with your old hip may be gone, but it takes a while for your muscles to heal, and for your body to adjust to your new hip. It is therefore important that you give yourself time to recover, and avoid pushing yourself too soon after the surgery.
What else should I know?
Leg Swelling
As a result of the surgery we expect there to be some swelling and brusing around your knee and your lower leg. To help with this we recommend you elevate your leg regularly and use ice (wrapped in a towel) at least thre to four times a day. If it becomes too painful and very red, you must seek medical attention. It can takes approximately 6 to 12 months for the swelling to go.
Sleeping
We suggest not sleeping on the operated side until the wound has healed, which may take 6 weeks.
Bathing
It is best to shower or sponge bath until your wound has healed, and when you feel able to get in and out of a bath safely.
Driving
Your insurance company should be informed about your operation. Some companies will not insure drivers for a number of weeks after knee surgery, so it’s important to check your policy.
Before driving, you need to be fully recovered from your surgical procedure, free from the distracting effect of pain or of any pain relief medication, and be able to safely control your car, and perform an emergency stop.
Work
Time off from work depends on the physical demands expected of you, especially if it involves heavy lifting, standing for long periods of time, or lots of walking. Everyone recovers differently but in most cases if you have a light job or are office-based you may return quite early. If your job involves heavy duties, you may need to be off work for several weeks with a phased return.
