How to Prepare for Surgery and
Recovery ?
People can do many things before and after they have surgery to make
everyday tasks easier and help speed their recovery.
Before Surgery
Learn what to expect before, during, and after surgery. Request
information written for patients from the doctor or contact one of
the organizations listed near the end of this document.
Arrange for someone to help you around the house for a week or
two after coming home from the hospital.
Arrange for transportation to and from the hospital.
Set up a "recovery station" at home. Place the
television remote control, radio, telephone, medicine, tissues,
waste basket, and pitcher and glass next to the spot where you will
spend the most time while you recover.
Place items you use every day at arm level to avoid reaching up
or bending down.
Stock up on kitchen staples and prepare food in advance, such as
frozen casseroles or soups that can be reheated and served easily.
After Surgery
Follow the doctor's instructions.
Work with a physical therapist or other health care professional
to rehabilitate your hip.
Wear an apron for carrying things around the house. This leaves
hands and arms free for balance or to use crutches.
Use a long-handled "reacher" to turn on lights or grab
things that are beyond arm's length. Hospital personnel may provide
one of these or suggest where to buy one.
What Does Hip Replacement Surgery Involve?
The hip joint is located where the upper end of the femur meets the
acetabulum. The femur, or thigh bone, looks like a long stem with a ball on
the end. The acetabulum is a socket or cup-like structure in the pelvis, or
hip bone. This "ball and socket" arrangement allows a wide range
of motion, including sitting, standing, walking, and other daily activities.
During hip replacement, the surgeon removes the diseased bone tissue and
cartilage from the hip joint. The healthy parts of the hip are left intact.
Then the surgeon replaces the head of the femur (the ball) and the
acetabulum (the socket) with new, artificial parts. The new hip is made of
materials that allow a natural, gliding motion of the joint. Hip replacement
surgery usually lasts 2 to 3 hours.
Sometimes the surgeon will use a special glue, or cement, to bond the new
parts of the hip joint to the existing, healthy bone. This is referred to as
a "cemented" procedure. In an uncemented procedure, the artificial
parts are made of porous material that allows the patient's own bone to grow
into the pores and hold the new parts in place. Doctors sometimes use a "hybrid"
replacement, which consists of a cemented femur part and an uncemented
acetabular part.
How Long Are Recovery and Rehabilitation?
On the day after surgery or sometimes on the day of surgery, therapists
will teach the patient exercises that will improve recovery. A respiratory
therapist may ask the patient to breathe deeply, cough, or blow into a
simple device that measures lung capacity. These exercises reduce the
collection of fluid in the lungs after surgery.
A physical therapist may teach the patient exercises, such as contracting
and relaxing certain muscles, that can strengthen the hip. Because the new,
artificial hip has a more limited range of movement than an undiseased hip,
the physical therapist also will teach the patient proper techniques for
simple activities of daily living, such as bending and sitting, to prevent
injury to the new hip. As early as 1 to 2 days after surgery, a patient may
be able to sit on the edge of the bed, stand, and even walk with assistance.
Usually, people do not spend more than 10 days in the hospital after hip
replacement surgery. Full recovery from the surgery takes about 3 to 6
months, depending on the type of surgery, the overall health of the patient,
and the success of rehabilitation.
