Hip Replacement FAQs and Documents

Your orthopaedic surgeon will decide if you are a candidate for the surgery. This will be based on your history, an examination and X-rays. Your orthopaedic surgeon will ask you to decide if your discomfort, stiffness and disability justify undergoing surgery. There is no harm in waiting if conservative, non-operative methods are controlling your discomfort.

Age is not a problem if you are in reasonable health and have the desire to continue living a productive, active life. Your surgeon will ask you to be evaluated by a physician for an opinion about your general health and readiness for surgery.

We expect most hips to last more than 10–15 years. However, there is no guarantee, and 5–10 percent may not last that long. A second replacement may be necessary.

The most common reason for failure is loosening of the artificial ball where it is secured in the femur, or loosening of the socket. Wearing of the plastic spacer may also result in the need for revision.

Most surgeries go well without any complications. Infection and blood clots are two serious complications that concern us the most. To avoid these complications, we use antibiotics and blood thinners. We also take special precautions in the operating room to reduce risk of infections. The chances of this happening in your lifetime are 1 percent or less. Dislocation of the hip after surgery is a risk. Your surgeon and physical therapist will discuss ways to reduce that risk.

You should discuss preoperative physical therapy and exercise with your surgeon.

Rarely do patients need blood after the surgery.

You will be able to get out of bed the day of your surgery.

Most hip-replacement patients go home the same day as their surgery. If you need more time for rehabilitation, other options might be available to you. Make arrangements before your surgery to have someone stay with you for approximately three days after you are discharged.

After your surgeon has scheduled your surgery, the Center for Advanced Joint Replacement care coordinator will contact you.

We reserve approximately three to three-and-a-half hours for pre-operative preparation, surgery and recovery.

You may have a general anesthetic, which most people call “being put to sleep,” or a spinal anesthetic. The choice is between you and the anesthesiologist.

Yes, but we will keep you comfortable with appropriate medication. We begin by managing your pain with pills following surgery and can give intravenous medication as needed. Your surgeon will discuss with you what pain control option is best for you in the hospital and at home.

Your orthopaedic surgeon will do the surgery. A physician’s assistant often helps during the procedure.

The scar will be approximately 6–8 inches long. It could be in one of several locations, front, side or back.

Yes. You will start with a walker until your muscle strength returns after surgery. Your outpatient physical therapist will advance you to a cane when appropriate. Your equipment needs will be determined by the physical therapist and ordered for you by the Center for Advanced Joint Replacement care coordinator and delivered to you before you leave the hospital.

After hip-replacement surgery, you may need a high toilet seat for a period of time following surgery. If needed, you will also be taught by the occupational therapist to use adaptive equipment to help you with lower body dressing and bathing. You might also benefit from a bath seat or grab bars in the bathroom. Your home equipment needs are discussed during your pre-operative interview with the care coordinator.

The majority of patients go directly home when discharged.

Yes. In the first several days or weeks after surgery, depending on your progress, you will need someone to assist you with meal preparation, housekeeping, etc. Family members or friends must be available to help. Preparing ahead of time, before your surgery, can minimize the amount of help required. Having the laundry done, house cleaned, yard work completed, clean linens put on the bed, and single-portion frozen meals will reduce the need for extra help.

Yes. Physical therapy will continue after you go home with a therapist in your home or at an outpatient physical therapy facility. The length of time required for this type of therapy varies with each patient. We will help you with these arrangements before you go home.

The ability to drive depends on whether surgery was on your right hip or your left hip and the type of car you have. If the surgery was on your left hip and you have an automatic transmission, you could be driving within two weeks. If the surgery was on your right hip, your driving could be restricted as long as six weeks. Consult with your surgeon for advice on your activity. You should not drive if you are taking narcotic pain medicine.

We recommend that most people take at least one month off from work, even if your job allows you to sit frequently. More strenuous jobs will require a longer absence from work.

The time to resume sexual intercourse should be discussed with your surgeon.

Two to four weeks after discharge, you will be seen for your first post-operative office visit. The frequency of follow-up visits will depend on your progress and your surgeon.

You are encouraged to participate in low-impact activities such as walking, dancing, golfing, hiking, swimming, bowling and gardening. High-impact activities such as contact sports, running, singles tennis and basketball are not recommended. Injury-prone sports such as downhill skiing are also dangerous for your new joint. You will be restricted from crossing your legs. Your surgeon and therapist will discuss further limitations with you following surgery.

In many cases, patients with hip replacements think that the new joint feels completely natural. However, we recommend always avoiding extreme positions or high-impact physical activity. The leg with the new hip may be longer than it was before, either because of previous shortening due to the hip disease, or because of a need to lengthen the hip to avoid dislocation. Most patients get used to this feeling in time or can use a small lift in the other shoe. Some patients have aching in the thigh when bearing weight for a few months after surgery.