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| Hip Joint Replacement Surgeries |
| Before Surgery |
| Getting yourself ready |
Having decided to perform the total hip replacement surgery for you, various members of the staff will help you to prepare for the surgery as well as your recovery. At any time, if you have any doubts or require any clarification, please feel free to call on your surgeon anytime. |
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An anaesthetist will visit you for pre-operative examination and assessment, if it has not been done before. |
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An orthopaedic team will again visit you to give a final check and be available for any last minute questions. |
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Please make sure you inform about all the medicines you are taking at the moment for Hypertension, Diabetes etc to the visiting physician. |
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| The Surgery |
During the operation, the diseased joint will be replaced by an artificial joint.
The procedure of implanting an artificial hip joint is a routine operation. For this reason, possible complications should not be a cause of concern; rather, they should be seen as part of careful patient information. The possible risks and / or complications should be discussed with your doctor(s). |
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After the incision is made, the hip joint is exposed. The damaged head of the femur is cut off and removed. |
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The cup implant Is positioned in the pre-reamed acetabulum and additionally fixated with screws or bone cement. The femur is also prepared with precise instrumentation and the hip stem is secured into the femur. |
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Once the hip stem implant has been secured, the ball head is then fixed. |
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| The total hip reconstruction is complete. |
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| After the Surgery |
Upon completion of surgery, you will be transferred to the recovery room, where your condition will be monitored carefully. You may feel discomfort in the region of your hip. Your pain will be managed as discussed before the surgery with an anaesthetist and nursing staff. When the general condition and pain is well controlled, you will be transferred to your room. |
| Hospital Stay |
Usually, over the first 48 hours following the surgery, there is pain which can be well controlled as per the discussions had with you before the surgery.
Additionally, your leg will be immobilized and compressed with stockings or elastic bandage in order to prevent: |
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dislocation of the joint; |
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pain; |
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danger of thrombosis. |
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| Body and muscle-tensioning exercise begins in accordance with the goals set by your surgeon and physical therapist. A personal rehabilation programme will help you to practice: |
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moving with confidence; |
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to get out of the bed; |
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sitting down correctly and standing-up again; |
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getting in and out of the car; |
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walking up and down the stairs |
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other necessary functions for day-to-day life |
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The objective is to train your femoral and pelvic muscles so as to benefit in full from your regained mobility. The more actively you participate, the quicker you will reach your goal. The crucial points of post-surgery and rehabilitation are designed to your personal needs. It is essential to continue the rehabilitation exercises at home.
After leaving the hospital, you will be soon able to pursue your professional and private activities again. But please be careful not to overdo your regained freedom of movement.
Your activities determine the loads to which your artificial joint is subjected, and thus influence its durability.
In subsequent years, do take the opportunity of regular follow-up examinations by your doctor, even if you have no complaints so that the doctor is able to recognise complications at an early stage which otherwise might emerge after several years. |
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| Precautions |
There are four basic movements which must always be avoided. These precautions apply in all positions including sitting, standing and whilst getting in and out of bed or a chair. |
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Don't move your hip into more than a 90 degree flexion (this is a right angle). The increased motion may cause dislocations. This means no sitting on low stools, low chairs, low toilets etc. |
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Don't cross your legs: the operated leg must always be kept out to the side, away from the midline of the body. |
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Do not pivot or twist on the operated leg, or roll operated leg in or out. The toes and the knee cap should always point straight ahead - not to the side. |
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Do not lie on either side until you have permission from your doctor. When lying on your side, you need at least one pillow between your legs. |
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| Sitting |
Keep your knee lower than your hip when sitting: check the height of your chair. Sit in a firm chair with arms, not a swivel or rocking chair. Arms are needed to aid in rising to a standing position. |
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When getting up, move to the front of the chair, place your operated leg forward. Your unoperated leg should be bent under the chair. Push up with your arms and unoperated leg until standing. |
| Remember not to lean too far forward. |
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