Hip Replacement

Hip replacement is a surgical procedure that replaces a damaged hip joint with an artificial one, restoring mobility and reducing pain for a better quality of life.

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Your operation and hospital stay

Total hip replacement is a major operation. It involves admission to hospital, anaesthesia, rehabilitation and well defined risks.

The operation takes us about 90 minutes to perform. It is an operation Dr Sangameswaran performs about 100 times per year. This represents a busy surgical practice specialising in hip and knee replacement.

Anaesthesia used is often a spinal block with sedation/general anaesthesia combined with intraoperative injections of local anaesthesia, and a “Pain buster” local anaesthetic catheter which is left in the joint. You will not be aware during the operation. You can be completely asleep if you wish. Your anaesthetist will discuss this with you the night before surgery.

Your operation will be carried out in an orthopaedic operating theatre at Sangam bone and joint Hospital. Strict aseptic conditions will apply, including the use of full exhaust “space suits”. Your arthritic hip is dislocated surgically and the ball of the femur removed. Drills and reamers are used to prepare the bone surfaces for accurate implantation of your new hip. Special care is taken to ensure the hip is stable and the length of the leg is the same as the other side if possible. The wound is sutured close with a dissolving material so no stitches are seen or need to be removed.

After the operation, you will be transferred to the recovery ward for observation for a period of hours. A check X-ray of your new hip will be taken and shown to me before you return to the hospital ward.

Post-operative programme in hospital

Day 1

You will be encouraged to stand and walk fully weight bearing with a walking frame. You should start a light normal diet if there is no nausea. we start prune juice and other laxatives early, as a lot of the pain killers tend to cause constipation. If you take something regularly normally, you should bring it in to hospital and it will be prescribed. It is not unusual to have a first bowel motion at Day 3 or later. You will have a drip with fluids and antibiotics running into the vein, an indwelling urinary catheter draining the bladder of urine and a drain in the hip wound draining blood from the operation site. Pain medicine will be given regularly orally for at least 48 hours, and then as required. Calf compressors are applied to decrease clots forming in the legs. Heel Protectors are used to avoid pressure ulcers.

Day 2

If you have been successful in standing and walking a few steps to Day 1, then all tubes will be removed and your dressing changed today. You may shower if you feel up to it. You will be walked twice today with your physio out of the room.

Day 3&4

Mobilising twice daily, moving onto crutches or stick. Normal diet and bowel habit. Reducing pain medicine. Can sleep on back or non-operated side (Pillow between legs for mini posterior approach. No “hip precautions” for DAA

Day 5

Today you will be discharged provided that we feel you are well enough, the wound looks god and there are no medical issues. We do Doppler ultrasound scans routinely on all THR patients prior to discharge. Most patients go to rehab for a week or 2, but some go directly home or to “ECP” (where the physiotherapist visits you at home provided you are in the area.

First 6 weeks

Graduated exercise programme with a walking aid outdoors. Aim to be doing about an hour of something, including walking, pool, exercise bike or gym. Left THR may drive automatic car at 2 weeks, right THR should wait till 6 weeks. Clinical review at week 6 in Dr Neil’s rooms with x-rays. This appointment will be given to you at time of initial booking for surgery. It would be appreciated if accounts settled at this time as well.

Return to activities/sport?

Once you have undergone a THR, it is your implant for life and you need to look after it to get the longest life from your new joint. You should avoid impact, that is running and jumping, forever. Run in an emergency but not for exercise. After about 3 months, you can do ALL other activities within reason, including walking, hiking, trekking, swimming, skiing, golf, doubles tennis, cycling, scuba diving, horse riding, etc. Any activity that has a risk of falling, and therefore trauma to your new hip, you do at your own risk. Your hip will continue to improve and feel more normal over at least 12 months or longer, by which time we will have done a final check and discharged you if all is well. For THR, the implant we use is the Global Cup and Paragon Stem

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