Hip Replacement Surgery Discharge Information

What is hip replacement surgery?

The hip is a joint where the top of the bone in your upper leg (called the femur or thighbone) meets the pelvic bone. The hip joint is called a ball and socket joint. The top of the femur (called the femoral head) is rounded, like a ball. It fits into a concave area (socket) on the pelvic bone, called the acetabulum.

Hip replacement surgery is a procedure done to remove a painful, broken, or diseased hip joint and replace it with an artificial hip joint. If both the femoral head and socket need to be replaced, the surgery is also called total hip arthroplasty or THA. If only the femoral head needs to be replaced, the surgery is called a partial hip replacement, or hemiarthroplasty.

You may need hip replacement surgery if you have:

• Severe pain from arthritis in the hip that limits your ability to do the things you want to do
• A broken hip
• A tumor in the hip joint

How can I take care of myself when I go home?

How long it takes to get better depends on how well you recover, your overall health, and any complications you may have.

Management

• Your provider will give you a list of your medicines when you leave the hospital.
  • Know your medicines. Know what they look like, how much you should take each time, how often you should take them, and why you take each one.
  • Take your medicines exactly as your provider tells you to.
  • Carry a list of your medicines in your wallet or purse. Include any nonprescription medicines and supplements on the list.
  • Talk to your provider before you use any other medicines, including nonprescription medicines.
• Your provider may prescribe medicine to:
  • Treat pain
  • Treat or prevent an infection
  • Treat or prevent side effects, such as nausea or constipation, from other treatments
  • Help prevent blood clots
  • Help build bone and prevent bone loss
• Your provider may recommend other types of therapy to help relieve pain, other symptoms, or side effects of treatment.
• You may need to continue a rehabilitation program after you leave the hospital to help you recover from hip replacement surgery. Most rehabilitation programs include:
  • Physical therapy to help you regain muscle strength and teach you ways to move safely
  • Occupational therapy to help you relearn safe ways to do the tasks that the you did before your hip replacement surgery
• To care for your surgical wound:
  • Keep your surgical wound clean.
  • If you are told to change the dressing on your surgical wound, wash your hands before changing the dressing and after disposing of the dressing.
• Follow activity restrictions, such as not driving or operating machinery, as recommended by your healthcare provider or pharmacist, especially if you are taking pain medicines.
• Find someone to help you with your activities for a time after you go home.
• Make your home safe to prevent injury and help you heal. This may include:
  • Removing throw rugs from the floors to prevent tripping
  • Installing hand rails or grab bars in showers or other areas where you may slip
  • Using raised toilet seats or other equipment to keep your hip in the proper position
• Take care of your health. Try to get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Eat a healthy diet and try to keep a healthy weight. If you smoke, try to quit. If you want to drink alcohol, ask your healthcare provider how much is safe for you to drink. Learn ways to manage stress. Exercise according to your healthcare provider's instructions.

Appointments

• Follow your provider's instructions for follow-up appointments.
• Keep appointments for any testing you may need.

Talk with your provider about any questions or concerns you have.

Call your healthcare provider if you have new or worsening:

• Trouble doing your normal daily activities
• Pain that is not controlled with your medicines
• Signs of infection around your surgical wound. These include:
  • The area around your wound is more red or painful
  • Your wound area is very warm to touch
  • You have blood, pus, or other fluid coming from the wound area
  • You have a fever higher than 101.5° F (38.6° C)
  • You have chills or muscle aches.
• Swelling in your leg, ankle, or foot on the side of your hip replacement
• Coldness or change in color of the skin of your leg, ankle, or foot on the side of your hip replacement
• Warmth, redness, or pain in your leg
• If you are taking medicine to prevent blood clots, unusual or unexpected bleeding