1. Total Hip Replacement
 What to expect from
your new hip
 How to get there
from here
 Dr. Anthony Shaia, M.D.
 Dr. Harry Shaia, M.D.
 West End Orthopaedic Clinic

2. This presentation will help you
better understand your
upcoming hip replacement
surgery. Your participation is
essential to the success of
your replacement.

3. What is a hip replacement ?
 Through an incision
on the side of your
hip, the ball will be
removed.
 The hip socket will be
replaced with a metal
cup with a plastic liner.
 A new ball will be
attached by a metal
stem to your thigh
bone.

4. What to Expect
 Initially, you will have some pain and
restrictions on your activity.
 After your recovery, you can look
forward to many years of pain free
activity
 Our goal is to reduce your pain and to
increase your level of activity

5. What to Expect
 Most patients can return to an active lifestyle
within 2 months.
 You will have some pain for 4 to 6 weeks
 You will use crutches for the first 3 weeks and
then use a cane or single crutch for another 3
weeks.
 You can expect to drive the car 3 to 4 weeks
after surgery.

6. What to Expect
 Doubles tennis
 Walking or hiking
 Golf
 Swimming
 Aerobics
 Biking

7. What to Expect
 The vast majority of the time, hip
replacement surgery is successful.
 However complications can occur.
 We will do every thing possible to
reduce the risk of complications
 Your participation is also essential to
minimizing the risk of complications

8. What Could Go Wrong ?
 Blood clots could
form in your legs
and rarely break off
and go to your lung
 Dislocation of the
new hip
 Infection after
surgery
 Coumadin will be
used as a blood
thinner
 Foot pumps
 Follow the
precautions
demonstrated by the
nurses and
therapists
 Antibiotics

9. What Can You Do ?
 If you follow the hip precautions, the
chance of dislocation is significantly
reduced. These restrictions may seem
inconvenient, but they are only
temporary and they will protect your
new hip from damage while you are
healing.

10. What Could Go Wrong ?
 Loosening or
wearing out of the
new hip.
 These are rare and
usually occur many
years after surgery.
These complications
can be avoided by
keeping your weight
down and avoiding
high impact activity.

11. What Could Go Wrong ?
 Other rare complications
 Nerve damage
 Fracture of the thigh or pelvic bone
 Unequal leg lengths
 Continued pain

12. Will I need a blood transfusion ?
 Less than 3% of patients will need a
blood transfusion after hip replacement
surgery
 We will check your blood count today to
determine if you need to donate your
own blood.
 Based on the results, you may be
instructed to take an iron supplement or
donate your own blood.

13. Getting Ready for Surgery
You will attend a
preop class one or
two weeks before
surgery. This class
is the beginning of
Joint Camp. It would
be helpful if you
brought along a
friend or family
member…your
coach.

14. Getting Ready for Surgery
You and your coach
will meet Janet, the
nurse who runs our
Joint Replacement
Center. You will also
meet one of the
physical therapists
who will work with you
while you are in the
hospital.

15. Getting Ready for Surgery
 Preop testing will
also be done and
a light lunch
will be served.

16. Before coming to the hospital
 Clear away loose rugs.
They can cause falls.
 Find a couple of
comfortable chairs with
arms. You’ll need the
arms to help you get up.
Avoid sofas or other
chairs with deep soft
cushions.

17. Before coming to the hospital
 You will need a physical
from your family doctor,
cardiologist or other
medical specialist
 Arrange for someone to
be at home with for the
first 3 – 5 days after
leaving the hospital

18. Before coming to the hospital
 Stop any medicines which might thin
your blood and cause excessive
bleeding
 Aspirin, Plavix, Coumadin
 Aleve or Advil
 Most arthritis drugs: Naprosyn, Celebrex
are a few examples
 Premarin

19. Coming to the hospital
 Bring all of your
home medications
 Bring comfortable or
loose fitting clothes
 You will be
instructed to arrive
between 5:30 AM
and 8:00 AM the day
of surgery

20. Coming to the Hospital
 You will report to
outpatient
registration
 Then proceed to the
outpatient area were
nurses will check
your consent and
help you change
clothes

21. The day of surgery: Holding area
 You will meet your
anesthesiologist and
nurse anesthetist
 An IV will be started
in your arm &
antibiotics will be
given
 You will also meet
one of the operating
room nurses

22. The day of surgery
 Your surgery will be
done under spinal
anesthesia with
sedation.
 This decreases the
risk of blood clots and
also minimizes blood
loss during surgery.

23. The day of surgery
 While you are having
your hip replaced, your
family should wait in the
Joint Unit waiting room.
I will contact them when
your surgery is finished.
 It is helpful if they let
Marie know where they
are.

24. The day of surgery
 You will go to the recovery room for 60
– 90 minutes
 You will have a foley catheter to drain
urine from your bladder
 You will have an IV to receive fluids and
antibiotics

25. The day of surgery
 The first day you will be sleepy and
want to rest, keep visitors to a
minimum.
 As your spinal wears off, you will begin
to have some pain. Please call your
nurse when you need pain medication.
 Once your spinal is fully worn off, the
therapist will help you get out of bed
and go for a short walk.

26. First Day With Your New Hip
 You will get up and walk
with PT after breakfast
and after lunch
 The first time may be
difficult, but each time
you walk it will get
easier
 The nurses will continue
to give you pain pills as
you need them to
control the pain

27. First Day With Your New Hip
 If you do well with
your morning PT
session, the nurses
will remove your
catheter and IV after
breakfast.
 For lunch, you will be
up in a chair
 You will advance to
crutches in the
afternoon.

28. Second Day After Surgery
 You will walk further
today and work on steps.
 You will review hip
precautions again and
get additional instruction
from the occupational
therapist.
 She will show how to get
your socks and shoes on
safely.
 You will also attend class

29. Second Day After Surgery
 You will become
more independent
 You will be heading
home this afternoon.

30. Going Home with Your Hip
 A nurse will visit you to check your
incision and draw your blood
 You will take coumadin as a blood
thinner to prevent clots in your legs for
about 2 weeks. Then you will take 1
aspirin a day for 3 months

31. Going Home with Your Hip
 Walking is essential to your recovery.
 It is also important for you to rest. Twice
each day get in the bed and elevate
your legs for at least an hour and a half.
 This will keep the swelling down and
help prevent clots.

32. Going Home with Your Hip
 With each day you
will gain strength,
confidence and
independence.
 As you feel
comfortable you
may use a single
crutch.

33. Going Home with Your Hip
 I look forward to
seeing you in the
office in about 3
weeks.
 Please call at any
time if you have
questions or
concerns