Hip Replacement Surgery

The following is a description of what you can expect when you have hip replacement surgery at Ridgeview:

What to Expect on the Day of Surgery

You should arrive at the Surgery department two hours before surgery.
A surgical nurse will review your medications and help you prepare for surgery.
The anesthesia team will meet with you and develop a plan for anesthesia.
While you are in the operating room, a nurse will insert a catheter into your bladder.
Following the operation, you will be in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit for about an hour for close monitoring.
Eventually you will be transferred to the orthopedic area for post-operative care by the orthopedic nursing staff.
A physical therapist may evaluate you and start your exercises this afternoon.
You may rest and visit with friends and family for the remainder of the day and evening.

We'll get you up early to check your hemoglobin level and get you started on oral pain medications.
The physical therapist will assess you one-on-one in your room in the morning, teaching you any movement precautions that are specific to your surgeon's technique.
The rehab team will also help you do your exercises and begin walking short distances with a walker.
Your catheter will be removed sometime today.
After lunch, you will attend group physical therapy with other total joint patients; your coach is encouraged to attend.
In the evening, you will walk a couple of times with nursing staff, getting more accustomed to your new hip.

After an early wake-up by lab and nursing, an occupational therapist will show you how to use adaptive equipment to get dressed and ready for the day.
At approximately 8:30 a.m. you will attend group physical therapy.
At 11:30 a.m. you will have a buffet lunch with other patients, your coach and the nursing staff; lunch is offered to your coach at no charge.
Right after lunch, we’ll begin some of your discharge teaching, making sure that you and your coach are prepared to go home.
At about 1 p.m. you will have a second group therapy session, practicing stairs, transfers and other activities.
Most patients are ready to leave the hospital today — plan for your coach to be available for one-on-one discharge instructions and to take you home later this afternoon.

Similar to the second day, you will wake up early, have lab work, get dressed and be ready for breakfast by 7:30 a.m.
Physical therapy is at 8:30 a.m. and you will have a final chance to practice stairs, curbs and transfers, and to review your movement precautions.
You will get one-on-one instruction regarding medications from nursing staff and then be discharged before lunch.
You should arrange for your coach to be here by 9 a.m. for discharge instructions and to give you a ride.

Someone responsible needs to drive you.
Depending on your surgeon's technique, you may start outpatient physical therapy a week after you go home; find out if this applies to you and get this appointment scheduled before your surgery and hospital stay.
Other patients will continue with their home exercise program and will follow up with physical therapy in 6 to 8 weeks.
If you require home health services, we will arrange this for you.

You can expect to stay three nights at the hospital, leaving on Day 3 after morning physical therapy.
You should arrange for someone to drive you to the transitional care facility; alternatively, Ridgeview Social Services can set up a medical van, but this is not covered by your insurance.
A typical stay after hip replacement surgery is one to three weeks, depending on your progress and what resources are available to help care for you at home.