Total Hip Replacement

patient education for those scheduled for surgery

Discussion of Arthritis

patient education for those scheduled for surgery

What Are The Major Causes of Joint Pain?

OsteoarthritisOsteoarthritis Post Traumatic Post Traumatic

ArthritisArthritis Rheumatoid Rheumatoid

ArthritisArthritis Avascular NecrosisAvascular Necrosis Paget’s DiseasePaget’s Disease Systemic LupusSystemic Lupus

Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Healthy Hip Arthritic Hip

Ligaments

Femur

Femoral Head

Pelvis

Diseased Femoral Head

Total Hip Replacement: The Implant

Healthy Hip Post-Surgery, with BFH® Implant

Ligaments

Femur

Femoral Head

Pelvis

Acetabular Cup

& AcetabularHead

Stem

Modular Neck

Total Hip Replacement: Animated

2. Use mouse and click on “see step-by-step” to walk through animation.After animation is completed, click twice on slide background to move forward to next presentation slide

1. To load animation, right-click on the animation box. Select “Play”.

Surgical Pro’s

Major Improvement:Major Improvement: Pain - Less or no pain medicationPain - Less or no pain medication Return to normal, daily activitiesReturn to normal, daily activities Fitness & recreationFitness & recreation

Discussion of Surgery

patient education for those scheduled for surgery

Preparation for Surgery

Advance preparation helps Advance preparation helps reduce complications both during reduce complications both during and after the operationand after the operation

A well informed patient recovers A well informed patient recovers quicker, and studies show thisquicker, and studies show this

Medical evaluation & diagnostic Medical evaluation & diagnostic tests will be performedtests will be performed

Think AheadThink Ahead Special parking permit? Special parking permit?

Discuss this with your surgeonDiscuss this with your surgeon Prepare your bodyPrepare your body Prepare your home Prepare your home

Preparing for Surgery: Your Body

Medications:Medications: Advise your surgeon of all medications Advise your surgeon of all medications you're currently taking, prescription or over-the-you're currently taking, prescription or over-the-counter.counter.

Prepare Your Skin:Prepare Your Skin: Your skin should be free of any Your skin should be free of any infections or irritations before your surgery. infections or irritations before your surgery.

Donate Blood:Donate Blood: Although not critical, you may choose Although not critical, you may choose to donate blood in case you need a transfusion after to donate blood in case you need a transfusion after surgery surgery

Finish Dental Work:Finish Dental Work: If possible, finalize all dental If possible, finalize all dental work before your hip replacement surgery. work before your hip replacement surgery.

Preparing for Surgery: Your Body

Lose Weight:Lose Weight: If you are overweight, it's a good idea If you are overweight, it's a good ideato drop some pounds before surgery if possible. to drop some pounds before surgery if possible.

Stop Smoking and Drinking:Stop Smoking and Drinking: It's advisable to quit It's advisable to quit smoking - or at least cut back - prior to your operation. smoking - or at least cut back - prior to your operation. Don't drink alcohol for at least 48 hours prior to your Don't drink alcohol for at least 48 hours prior to your surgery. surgery.

Urinary Evaluation:Urinary Evaluation: If you have a history of frequent If you have a history of frequent urinary infections, schedule a urological evaluation urinary infections, schedule a urological evaluation before your surgery. This is especially important forbefore your surgery. This is especially important formen with prostate disease. men with prostate disease.

Exercise:Exercise: Exercise prior to surgery to increase your Exercise prior to surgery to increase your strength, so you will have flexibility to exercise after strength, so you will have flexibility to exercise after your surgery. your surgery.

Preparing for Surgery: Your Home

Rearrange Furniture:Rearrange Furniture: Create wide traffic paths and Create wide traffic paths and remove obstaclesremove obstacles

Check your shoes:Check your shoes: Wear rubber-soled shoes to Wear rubber-soled shoes to prevent slippingprevent slipping

Remove electrical cords:Remove electrical cords: To avoid tripping, remove To avoid tripping, remove them, hide them or tape them to the floorthem, hide them or tape them to the floor

Pack up the throw rugs:Pack up the throw rugs: Rugs can shift or bunch, Rugs can shift or bunch, causing you to slip or trip. causing you to slip or trip.

Watch the floor:Watch the floor: Always keep an eye on the floor to Always keep an eye on the floor to avoid tripping over pets or small objects.avoid tripping over pets or small objects.

Purchase assistive devices:Purchase assistive devices: i.e. long handled grabber, i.e. long handled grabber, raised toilet seat, shower bench, hand gripsraised toilet seat, shower bench, hand grips

Preparing for Surgery: Your Home

Stock up on food:Stock up on food: Store all supplies Store all supplies between waist and shoulder level to between waist and shoulder level to avoid bending.avoid bending.

Prepare a bed downstairs:Prepare a bed downstairs: Prepare Prepare a bed on the ground floor of your a bed on the ground floor of your home to use temporarilyhome to use temporarily

Get help with household chores:Get help with household chores: Arrange a short stay at an extended Arrange a short stay at an extended care rehab facility or ask family and care rehab facility or ask family and friends to help out.friends to help out.

Insurance:Insurance: Check with your carrier Check with your carrier in advance to see if you need pre-in advance to see if you need pre-certification for surgery, as well as certification for surgery, as well as whether your insurance plan covers whether your insurance plan covers a private rooma private room

Preparing for Surgery: Your Home

Don’t forget your pets:Don’t forget your pets: Arrange for Arrange for someone to care for them. You don't someone to care for them. You don't want to trip over them or have them want to trip over them or have them possibly knock you down, and you possibly knock you down, and you may have problems picking them up may have problems picking them up or cleaning up after them. or cleaning up after them.

The Day of Surgery

Plan to arrive at the hospital 2 Plan to arrive at the hospital 2 hours prior to surgery to fill out hours prior to surgery to fill out pre-admission paperwork. pre-admission paperwork.

Make sure you bring:Make sure you bring: Your health insurance cardYour health insurance card A list of your medications and A list of your medications and

any allergiesany allergies Your living will or power of Your living will or power of

attorneyattorney Emergency contact infoEmergency contact info

The Day of Surgery

Don't wear jewelry or Don't wear jewelry or makeupmakeup

Remove nail polish, dentures Remove nail polish, dentures and contact lenses or and contact lenses or glassesglasses

Do not use lotion, perfume Do not use lotion, perfume or deodorantor deodorant

Don't eat or drink anything Don't eat or drink anything after midnight on the night after midnight on the night before your surgerybefore your surgery

You may brush your teeth You may brush your teeth and rinse your mouth, but and rinse your mouth, but don't swallow any waterdon't swallow any water

Before Surgery

After the paperwork is completed, After the paperwork is completed, your nurse will review your your nurse will review your personal health history and your personal health history and your home medications with you. It's home medications with you. It's important that you share any recent important that you share any recent changes in your health.changes in your health.

You'll also be asked to remove your You'll also be asked to remove your clothing and put on a hospital clothing and put on a hospital gown. Then you'll be assigned to a gown. Then you'll be assigned to a bed in the preoperative holding bed in the preoperative holding area.area.

Preoperative Holding

A nurse will start an intravenous A nurse will start an intravenous infusion infusion

An anesthesiologist will An anesthesiologist will discusses with you the type of discusses with you the type of anesthesia best for your caseanesthesia best for your case

Anesthesia is designed to make Anesthesia is designed to make the procedure as comfortable the procedure as comfortable as possible for you as possible for you general anesthetic (asleep)general anesthetic (asleep) spinal anesthetic (awake, but spinal anesthetic (awake, but

no feeling from waist down)no feeling from waist down)

Preoperative Holding

Answer questions:Answer questions: Regarding your medication, Regarding your medication, allergies, medical history, and your vital signs will allergies, medical history, and your vital signs will be taken. be taken.

Receive medication:Receive medication: You'll be given medication to You'll be given medication to help you relax.help you relax.

Say goodbye to your family:Say goodbye to your family: They'll be taken to a They'll be taken to a waiting area where they can be kept informed of waiting area where they can be kept informed of your progress during surgery.your progress during surgery.

You'll then be wheeled into your operating room.You'll then be wheeled into your operating room.

The Procedure – Operating Room

In the OR, you'll be moved from your gurney onto the In the OR, you'll be moved from your gurney onto the operating bedoperating bed Temperature is intentionally cool to help prevent infectionsTemperature is intentionally cool to help prevent infections Nursing team will cover you with blankets to keep you warmNursing team will cover you with blankets to keep you warm

EKG electrodes will be placed on your chest and sides EKG electrodes will be placed on your chest and sides to monitor your heartto monitor your heart

Then the anesthesiologist will inject medication Then the anesthesiologist will inject medication through your IV line.through your IV line.

A nurse may insert a urinary catheter - a thin, sterile A nurse may insert a urinary catheter - a thin, sterile tube inserted into your bladder to drain urine.tube inserted into your bladder to drain urine.

The surgery itself generally takes between 45 minutes The surgery itself generally takes between 45 minutes to 2 hours.to 2 hours.

The Procedure – Operating Room Surgeon determines what length of incision will be needed. Surgeon determines what length of incision will be needed.

Minimally-invasive surgery technique (2-3 inches)Minimally-invasive surgery technique (2-3 inches) preserves vital muscles & tendonspreserves vital muscles & tendons less pain, scarring, blood loss, and increased function less pain, scarring, blood loss, and increased function

immediately after surgery.immediately after surgery.

Traditional hip surgery (6-8 inches)Traditional hip surgery (6-8 inches)

The Procedure - Recovery Room

You'll awaken slowly in the You'll awaken slowly in the recovery room, where you'll recovery room, where you'll spend your first hour or two spend your first hour or two after surgery. after surgery.

Your nurse will constantly Your nurse will constantly monitor your progress to monitor your progress to ensure that your vital signs ensure that your vital signs are stable.are stable.

The Procedure - After Surgery

After the recovery room, you'll After the recovery room, you'll be taken to your hospital room. be taken to your hospital room.

Bulky dressing over the surgical Bulky dressing over the surgical incision and may have a drain in incision and may have a drain in place to help decrease swelling place to help decrease swelling of your hip.of your hip.

Your heels will be elevated to Your heels will be elevated to decrease pressure on the decrease pressure on the surgically repaired hip. surgically repaired hip.

You'll also be hooked up to an You'll also be hooked up to an IV line, through which you'll IV line, through which you'll receive fluids and medication receive fluids and medication (including an antibiotic).(including an antibiotic).

The Procedure - After Surgery

You'll remain in bed sitting up with nurse's You'll remain in bed sitting up with nurse's assistance assistance

Nursing team will regularly turn you and provide skin Nursing team will regularly turn you and provide skin care care Be sure to tell them if you experience any tender Be sure to tell them if you experience any tender

or burning areasor burning areas

Start your home medications as soon as you can Start your home medications as soon as you can tolerate liquidstolerate liquids

Diet will be initially limited, the range of foods Diet will be initially limited, the range of foods available to you will increase as your appetite returns available to you will increase as your appetite returns

Medications will help reduce any nauseaMedications will help reduce any nausea

Hospital Stay Day after your surgeryDay after your surgery

Technician will draw blood; IV fluids and Technician will draw blood; IV fluids and medications will continuemedications will continue

Nurse will help you to move into a reclining Nurse will help you to move into a reclining wheelchairwheelchair

Second day after surgerySecond day after surgery Nurse will remove your incisional drain and Nurse will remove your incisional drain and

cathetercatheter IV fluids may be stopped, and social services will IV fluids may be stopped, and social services will

discuss discharge planning with youdiscuss discharge planning with you Third day after surgeryThird day after surgery

Most patients dischargedMost patients discharged You'll be able to visit the bathroom with walkerYou'll be able to visit the bathroom with walker Staff will show you how to maintain proper hip Staff will show you how to maintain proper hip

alignment using the toiletalignment using the toilet

Hospital Discharge

Your nurse will change your Your nurse will change your dressing and teach you on dressing and teach you on how to care for your incision how to care for your incision site at homesite at home

Your pain medication pump Your pain medication pump will also be discontinued.will also be discontinued.

You’ll receive discharge orders You’ll receive discharge orders and instructions. If you are not and instructions. If you are not discharged to your home, discharged to your home, you'll go to a rehab unit, you'll go to a rehab unit, extended care or skilled extended care or skilled nursing unitnursing unit

Your Healthcare Team

During your surgery and rehabilitation, you'll work During your surgery and rehabilitation, you'll work closely with a healthcare team that includes the closely with a healthcare team that includes the following people:following people:

Orthopaedic Surgeon:Orthopaedic Surgeon: surgery and recovery surgery and recovery Nurses:Nurses: Pre and post-op surgery Pre and post-op surgery

and pain managementand pain management Physical Therapist (PT):Physical Therapist (PT): Muscle Muscle

strengthening and exercisestrengthening and exercise Occupational Therapist (OT):Occupational Therapist (OT):

Daily activity management  Daily activity management  Case Manager:Case Manager: Discharge Discharge

Pain Management

Ask for pain management Ask for pain management BEFORE the pain becomes BEFORE the pain becomes too intense to handletoo intense to handle

Fatigue decreases your Fatigue decreases your tolerance for pain, so avoid tolerance for pain, so avoid becoming overtired becoming overtired

Pace your activities to allow Pace your activities to allow for rest periodsfor rest periods

If you're not sleeping well, If you're not sleeping well, inform your nurseinform your nurse Your doctor may prescribe Your doctor may prescribe

medicationmedication

Patient-Controlled Analgesia.

Patient-controlled analgesia Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) provides optimal (PCA) provides optimal pain relief pain relief withoutwithout the use the use of injectionsof injections

Intravenous, continual, Intravenous, continual, small dose of pain small dose of pain medicationmedication

Small, computerized pump Small, computerized pump allows you to self-allows you to self-administer an additional administer an additional amount of medicine as amount of medicine as neededneeded

All you have to do is push a All you have to do is push a button button

Increasing Muscle Strength

Key to rehabilitating your hipKey to rehabilitating your hip A physical therapist (PT) will A physical therapist (PT) will

visit you tovisit you to Review essential exercises Review essential exercises Cover what to expect from Cover what to expect from

your first therapy sessionyour first therapy session Answer any questions. Answer any questions.

You'll begin walking and other You'll begin walking and other exercises a day or two after exercises a day or two after surgerysurgery

In most hospitals, therapy is In most hospitals, therapy is performed twice a day. performed twice a day.

Body Alignment

Proper body alignment Proper body alignment helps lessen painhelps lessen pain

Nursing staff will help Nursing staff will help you change position at you change position at frequent intervals to frequent intervals to maximize comfort maximize comfort

Don't try to turn on your Don't try to turn on your own following surgery, own following surgery, ask for help whenever ask for help whenever you want to shift positionyou want to shift position

Keep a pillow between Keep a pillow between your legs when sleeping. your legs when sleeping.

Pain Medications

Several types of anti-pain Several types of anti-pain medications: narcotic and medications: narcotic and non-narcotic pain relievers, non-narcotic pain relievers, muscle relaxants and anti-muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatoriesinflammatories Administered through Administered through

injections, in pills or via an injections, in pills or via an IV tubeIV tube

Your doctor may prescribe Your doctor may prescribe a combination a combination

If medication does not If medication does not successfully control your successfully control your pain, alert your nursepain, alert your nurse

Pain Medication Side Effects

Most common side effects of pain Most common side effects of pain medications: medications: upset stomach, nausea, upset stomach, nausea,

constipation and drowsinessconstipation and drowsiness Always take medication with Always take medication with

somethingsomething Milk, juice, crackersMilk, juice, crackers

Choose HIGH FIBER foods and Choose HIGH FIBER foods and fruit juicesfruit juices

Drink 5-6 glasses of water dailyDrink 5-6 glasses of water daily If no bowel movement in 3 days, If no bowel movement in 3 days,

inform your nurseinform your nurse

Prevention of Infection

The risk of infection following hip surgery is low, The risk of infection following hip surgery is low, however it's important to take the possibility seriously. however it's important to take the possibility seriously.

Notify your orthopaedic surgeon if:Notify your orthopaedic surgeon if: The incision site has drainage, redness, swelling The incision site has drainage, redness, swelling

and/or foul odor.  and/or foul odor.  You think that you may have an infection. You think that you may have an infection.

an ingrown toenail, bladder infection, skin sores, a an ingrown toenail, bladder infection, skin sores, a tooth abscess, etc.  tooth abscess, etc. 

You have ncreased hip pain at rest or when active.You have ncreased hip pain at rest or when active. You undergo a procedure through which bacteria You undergo a procedure through which bacteria

might spread into your bloodstream. might spread into your bloodstream. You have a persistent fever above 101°F for 2 days.You have a persistent fever above 101°F for 2 days.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (Blood Clots)

Notify your orthopaedic surgeon if you have blood Notify your orthopaedic surgeon if you have blood clot symptoms:clot symptoms: Chest painChest pain Shortness of breathShortness of breath Drainage or foul odor from the incisionDrainage or foul odor from the incision Redness at the incision siteRedness at the incision site Redness, warmth or pain in legsRedness, warmth or pain in legs Excessive pain or swelling in the hip, calf or feetExcessive pain or swelling in the hip, calf or feet Elevated temperature of more than 101ºF Elevated temperature of more than 101ºF

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation can take weeks or Rehabilitation can take weeks or monthsmonths

Dependent on the state of your Dependent on the state of your health before the operationhealth before the operation

How well you follow the rehab How well you follow the rehab regimenregimen

Be cautious with your new hip Be cautious with your new hip and avoid overly strenuous or and avoid overly strenuous or prohibited activitiesprohibited activities

Be patient - your recovery will Be patient - your recovery will take some time and efforttake some time and effort

You should again be able to You should again be able to enjoy most of the same enjoy most of the same activities you did before hip painactivities you did before hip pain

Rehabilitation

Using a Walker:Using a Walker: Start slowly by Start slowly by moving the walker a few inches in moving the walker a few inches in front of you, taking small, even front of you, taking small, even stepssteps

Using Crutches:Using Crutches: Require a Require a considerable amount of upper considerable amount of upper body strength, so their use is body strength, so their use is advisable only for certain patientsadvisable only for certain patients

Exercises:Exercises: Your physical therapist Your physical therapist will show you exercises designed will show you exercises designed to strengthen your muscles and to strengthen your muscles and increase your range of motionincrease your range of motion

When to Call Your Doctor

If you experience swelling around the surgical If you experience swelling around the surgical incision, or in a calf or legincision, or in a calf or leg

If you have unusual hip or leg painIf you have unusual hip or leg pain If the incision leaks fluid If the incision leaks fluid If you have trouble breathing or experienceIf you have trouble breathing or experience

chest painschest pains If you have fever over 101ºF for 2 daysIf you have fever over 101ºF for 2 days

After Hip Replacementpatient education

Living With Your New Hip - Diet

May experience some May experience some loss of appetite loss of appetite

Eat a healthy, balanced Eat a healthy, balanced diet diet

Advisable to take an iron Advisable to take an iron supplement or eat iron-supplement or eat iron-rich foods to help restore rich foods to help restore muscle strength and muscle strength and promote tissue healingpromote tissue healing

Drink plenty of fluidsDrink plenty of fluids

New Hip – Getting Into Vehicles

Make sure that the passenger Make sure that the passenger seat is pushed all the way seat is pushed all the way back in your vehicleback in your vehicle

Lower yourself carefully onto Lower yourself carefully onto the seat, keeping your the seat, keeping your operated leg forward and operated leg forward and allowing the seat to support allowing the seat to support youyou

Slide back onto the seat in a Slide back onto the seat in a semi-reclining position and semi-reclining position and pivot your body so that you're pivot your body so that you're facing the front of the vehiclefacing the front of the vehicle

Pull your legs into the vehicle Pull your legs into the vehicle one at a timeone at a time

New Hip - Walking Back to Health Walking is essential to your Walking is essential to your

recoveryrecovery Make walking part of your Make walking part of your

daily routine, gradually daily routine, gradually increasing the amount of increasing the amount of time you spend doing ittime you spend doing it

Focus on walking heel to Focus on walking heel to toe with a smooth motion, toe with a smooth motion, spending equal weight and spending equal weight and time on each foottime on each foot

As your recovery As your recovery progresses, move on to progresses, move on to more advanced activities, more advanced activities, like stairslike stairs

New Hip - Aids to Assist You

Bathing:Bathing: Your therapist or nurse will show you Your therapist or nurse will show you how to use a shower bench or chair while bathing. how to use a shower bench or chair while bathing. Use a long-handled sponge, shower hose or hand-Use a long-handled sponge, shower hose or hand-held showerhead to make bathing easier. You may held showerhead to make bathing easier. You may also want to consider having grab bars installed in also want to consider having grab bars installed in your shower or bathtub to provide support as you your shower or bathtub to provide support as you get in and out. get in and out.

Hand Grips:Hand Grips: Install handrails or safety bars next to Install handrails or safety bars next to stairs. If you already have these in place, secure stairs. If you already have these in place, secure them firmly before your surgery. them firmly before your surgery.

New Hip - Aids to Assist You

Toilet:Toilet: Use a raised toilet seat to keep your hip in a Use a raised toilet seat to keep your hip in a more stable position and minimize bending. more stable position and minimize bending.

Dressing:Dressing: To avoid bending, try to dress while To avoid bending, try to dress while sitting on a chair. A sock aid sitting on a chair. A sock aid and long-handled shoehorn and long-handled shoehorn can assist you. can assist you.

Housekeeping and Cooking:Housekeeping and Cooking: Use Use a long-handled reacher or grabber a long-handled reacher or grabber for objects too high or low for you for objects too high or low for you to to reach without stretching or to to reach without stretching or bending. bending.

New Hip - Best Standing Positions

When stepping up on a curb, move as close to your When stepping up on a curb, move as close to your walker as possible, then put your weight on both walker as possible, then put your weight on both legs and lift it onto the sidewalk. Step onto the legs and lift it onto the sidewalk. Step onto the sidewalk first with the un-operated leg. Using the sidewalk first with the un-operated leg. Using the walker to support your weight, bring up walker to support your weight, bring up the operated leg. the operated leg.

Use your good leg first in walking Use your good leg first in walking up stairs, then bring your operated up stairs, then bring your operated leg up to meet it. leg up to meet it.When going downstairs, always step When going downstairs, always step down with your operated leg first. down with your operated leg first.

New Hip – Best Sitting Positions To sit, back up until the edge of the chair or bed To sit, back up until the edge of the chair or bed

touches your leg. Then, using the armrests to support touches your leg. Then, using the armrests to support your weight, lower yourself into a sitting position. To your weight, lower yourself into a sitting position. To stand, reverse these steps. stand, reverse these steps.

Use a firm chair with a straight back, armrests and a Use a firm chair with a straight back, armrests and a high seat. high seat.

Always sit with your knees level with or lower than Always sit with your knees level with or lower than your hips. (Don’t cross your legs.)your hips. (Don’t cross your legs.)

Always sit with your back upright.Always sit with your back upright. Keep both feet on the floor and your hips 6 inches Keep both feet on the floor and your hips 6 inches

apart.apart. Don't let your hip cross the midline of your body.Don't let your hip cross the midline of your body.

New Hip – Getting Out of Bed Get out of bed on the side of Get out of bed on the side of

your prosthetic hip, keeping your prosthetic hip, keeping your thighs apart.your thighs apart.

Pivot on your hips, using Pivot on your hips, using your arms to help. With your your arms to help. With your good leg, gradually scoot to good leg, gradually scoot to the edge of the bed. Keep the edge of the bed. Keep your operated leg out to the your operated leg out to the side. Do not twist it inward.side. Do not twist it inward.

Sit on the edge of the bed Sit on the edge of the bed with your operated leg with your operated leg slightly forward. With your slightly forward. With your hands behind your hips, push hands behind your hips, push up - without bending forward up - without bending forward - to stand up.- to stand up.

New Hip – Using the Toilet

When using the toilet, step back until you feel the When using the toilet, step back until you feel the toilet touch the back of your legs.toilet touch the back of your legs.

Place your operated leg in front of you, keeping Place your operated leg in front of you, keeping your weight on the other leg.your weight on the other leg.

Looking behind you, grasp the side rails and lower Looking behind you, grasp the side rails and lower yourself onto the front of the toilet, then edge back. yourself onto the front of the toilet, then edge back. To stand up, reverse these steps.To stand up, reverse these steps.

New Hip - Intimacy

Partial hip replacement Partial hip replacement patients may resume sexual patients may resume sexual activity when comfortable, activity when comfortable, as restrictions are minimal. as restrictions are minimal.

Total hip replacement Total hip replacement patients may usually patients may usually resume sexual activity 4-6 resume sexual activity 4-6 weeks after surgery. weeks after surgery.

Always ask your doctor Always ask your doctor first, though, as this first, though, as this timeframe varies depending timeframe varies depending on your type of prosthesis.on your type of prosthesis.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will my staples be When will my staples be removed?removed?Staples are removed Staples are removed approximately 10-14 days approximately 10-14 days after your surgery.after your surgery.

How long do I wear the How long do I wear the white support stockings?white support stockings?This varies by doctor and This varies by doctor and individual recovery times. individual recovery times. Generally speaking, the Generally speaking, the stockings should be worn stockings should be worn during the day, but can be during the day, but can be removed at night. If there removed at night. If there is no swelling after 2-3 is no swelling after 2-3 weeks, use can be weeks, use can be discontinued.  discontinued. 

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I start physical When do I start physical therapy?therapy?It varies by case and by It varies by case and by doctor. Ask your surgeon doctor. Ask your surgeon for his preference.  for his preference. 

How much weight will my How much weight will my surgical leg bear?surgical leg bear?It depends on the type of It depends on the type of surgery and your doctor's surgery and your doctor's individual preference. individual preference. Usually, partial weight Usually, partial weight bearing is recommended.bearing is recommended.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I drive?When can I drive?This also varies by doctor This also varies by doctor and also depends on the and also depends on the type of surgery type of surgery performed. Usually, you'll performed. Usually, you'll be able to drive within 2-6 be able to drive within 2-6 weeks - your doctor will weeks - your doctor will let you know when it's let you know when it's safe.safe.

When can I swim?When can I swim?Most doctors agree that Most doctors agree that you should wait 6 weeks you should wait 6 weeks before beginning active before beginning active swimming. However, swimming. However, walking in water is great walking in water is great rehabilitative exercise.  rehabilitative exercise. 

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I take a shower?When can I take a shower?You may shower after surgery. You may shower after surgery. Leave the dressing in place. Leave the dressing in place. Afterward, remove the Afterward, remove the dressing, dry completely, clean dressing, dry completely, clean thoroughly with peroxide and thoroughly with peroxide and apply a clean dressing. Do not apply a clean dressing. Do not take a bath until your staples take a bath until your staples have been removed and your have been removed and your incision is healed.incision is healed.

How long after surgery will I How long after surgery will I need to take antibiotics prior to need to take antibiotics prior to dental work?dental work?For the rest of your life. It's For the rest of your life. It's recommended that you have recommended that you have any dental work done prior to any dental work done prior to surgery, if possible.   surgery, if possible.   

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