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Total Hip Replacement FAQ |
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- How does the doctor decide if I need a hip replacement?
- How long does the surgery take?
- How long will it be before I can take a shower or bath?
- When can I drive a car?
- Can I sleep on both sides?
- Should I put any ointment or treatments onto the incision site?
- When do I come back to see my orthopaedic surgeon?
- Are there activities I should do?
- When will I be able to return to work?
- When can I start playing tennis or golf or other sports?
- Will the implant set off metal detectors at airports?
- How long until bone ingrowth occurs in cementless implants?
- How far can I bend forward when I have a new hip?
- When can I stop using the elevated commode?
- When can I resume sexual activities?
- How long should I keep doing the prescribed post-operative exercises?
- When does the tape come off my wound?
- How long will my hip replacement last?
- How does the doctor decide if I need a hip replacement?
This decision is based on how much pain you have, your findings on X-ray, how difficult it is for you to walk, and how much these problems interfere with your activities or quality of life.
- How long does the surgery take?
Approximately 1-3 hours, depending on the condition of your hip at the time of surgery.
- How long will it be before I can take a shower or bath?
You may shower 3 days after surgery if the wound is dry. Keep water exposure to the incision site brief and blot it dry when you get out. Do not bathe or swim or Jacuzzi (ie. Do not submerge the incision) for approximately 3 to 4 weeks.
- When can I drive a car?
This question is impossible to generalize to everyone because it is largely dependent on the individual. Importantly, doctors do not have a license with the DMV to “clear you” or “release you” to return to driving. There are 3 primary criteria that must be met. You need to be off of narcotic pain medicines (otherwise you are driving under the influence). You need to be able to get in and out of the driver’s seat comfortably. And you must have regained your normal reflexes / strength. Also, return to driving depends partly on what side had surgery (ie. Right leg operates the pedals; people with Left side surgery can generally get back to driving much sooner unless you have a clutch). The average time to return to driving is around 4 weeks for the right side and usually sooner for the left. We recommend ‘testing’ yourself with another licensed driver in an empty parking lot or quiet street first in order to check your reflexes moving your foot from pedal to pedal.
- Can I sleep on both sides?
You can generally sleep on either side, on your stomach or on your back. How soon before you sleep on your side is mostly dependent on your comfort level because it is usually uncomfortable to put your weight on the operative side for a few weeks. If you do sleep on your side, you should keep pillows between your legs both for comfort and for hip stability.
If you sleep on your stomach, you must be careful getting into this position keeping your hip precautions in mind while you turn.
- Should I put any ointment or treatments onto the incision site?
For the first 2 weeks you should just keep the incision site dry. Typically there will be a ‘wound glue’ applied at the time of surgery and / or ‘steri-strips’ or ‘butterfly bandages’. These usually begin to come off at about 2 weeks after surgery. At that time you may begin to apply products such as Mederma ointment, Vitamin E ointment or silicone wound coverings.
- When do I come back to see my orthopaedic surgeon?
Generally, you should return to see your surgeon at the following intervals, but this may be individualized depending on special circumstances.
Follow-up appointments (from date of surgery):
- Approximately 4 weeks after surgery
- Approximately 4 to 6 months after surgery
- One year after surgery
- 2 years after surgery
- Then once every 2 to 4 years.
X-rays are an important part of each follow-up visit and essential in determining the amount of bone ingrowth, position of the implant, and the condition of the bone around the implant. Also, x-rays can tell us if any parts are wearing out prematurely.
- Are there activities I should do?
A number of activities and exercises will be described / taught by your physical therapist. Additionally, an exercise bike can be quite helpful. Keep the seat of the bike high to avoid extreme hip flexion. Within the first couple of weeks after surgery, the bike should be used as a motion machine; pedal with non-operative leg and let your operative leg ‘go along for the ride’. Use low resistance, low speed and short durations initially. After a few weeks, you can start to add a little resistance and duration as you can tolerate it. Additionally, after approximately 3 to 4 weeks, aqua therapy (pool exercises) are encouraged. The buoyancy of the water can make strengthening and gait training more comfortable because there is less load applied to the operative leg.
- When will I be able to return to work?
This varies depending on the demands of your job. Some ambitious patients return to desk jobs / administrative type work as early as 1 week after surgery (but usually more like 1 month). For active labor or heavy labor, it may take 3 to 6 months to return to work.
- When can I start playing tennis or golf or other sports?
Active sports should be delayed until you have weaned off of crutches and are walking comfortably. For golf, patients can usually get back to practicing their ‘short game’ around 1 to 2 months after surgery and get back into the full swing after 3 to 6 months. Tennis usually takes a little longer because it is higher demand. Start slow to be sure that you have regained adequate strength and gradually increase your activity as tolerated.
- Will the implant set off metal detectors at airports?
Yes, they usually do. The clinic can provide you with a card that documents your hip replacement. However, with the increased airport security lately, you should allow an extra 10 to 15 minutes to get through the airport.
- How long until bone ingrowth occurs in cementless implants?
This is a gradual process which stabilizes and matures over a period of 6 weeks to 6 months.
- How far can I bend forward when I have a new hip?
The safe range of motion for a hip replacement is largely determined by the size of the ball and socket and the stability that are achieved during surgery. Therefore, range of motion restrictions are frequently individualized. As a general precaution, you should limit hip flexion for the first three months. You may bend forward until your fingertips are able to touch your knees (90 degrees of flexion). Remember to keep your knees apart.
- When can I stop using the elevated commode?
After 3 months, unless otherwise instructed.
- When can I resume sexual activities?
There is no specific time frame. Basically, you can resume such activities when your hip is comfortable enough to allow it. Of course, you should avoid positions that place too much stress on the hip. The therapist can review safe techniques.
- How long should I keep doing the prescribed post-operative exercises?
You should do the exercises given to you at discharge until you return for your four-week visit. At that time, you may be given a new set of exercises. You should continue to exercise until your muscles are pain-free and you can walk without a limp. It is a good idea to continue your exercises as a lifetime commitment to keep your muscles strong.
- When does the tape come off my wound?
At the time of surgery tape-like strips may be placed on your incision to protect it. These will eventually come off on their own in one to two weeks, or you may remove them yourself after two weeks.
- How long will my hip replacement last?
The durability of hip replacement implants is quite good. The majority will last a lifetime. Occasionally implants can wear out or become loose over time.
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