Preparing for Your Hip Replacement: What to Expect on the Day

Preparation starts well in advance, with comprehensive pre-operative assessments to ensure you are in the best shape possible for surgery. On the day you’re admitted, practical things matter too — bringing personal items like your ID, medical documents, comfortable clothing, and toiletries can help you settle in more easily. You'll meet the surgical team, including anaesthetists who will explain your anaesthesia options, and physiotherapists who will talk you through your rehabilitation plan. These conversations are an excellent opportunity to ask questions and ease any concerns you might have. MSK Doctors, guided by Professor Lee, place great emphasis on making sure patients feel confident and well-informed, which is crucial for a smooth procedure. As recent guidelines highlight, “Best practice includes optimising preoperative patient education, anaesthetic technique, and transfusion strategy” (Wainwright et al., 2019).

Inside the Operating Theatre: The Hip Replacement Procedure Explained

In the operating theatre, you’ll be given either a spinal or general anaesthetic, depending on your health and preferences, to ensure you are comfortable throughout the procedure. The surgeon will then make a small incision to access your hip joint, carefully removing the damaged bone and cartilage. At the Klinik, uncemented implants are mainly used; these rely on your bone growing into the implant to secure it over time and have shown excellent long-term results. In some complex situations—such as after trauma, femoral neck fractures, or cancer—bone cement may be used to hold the implant securely in place. This matches the recommendations from British orthopaedic authorities who focus on patient safety and the most suitable implant choice. The whole operation usually takes between one and two hours, with the surgical team closely monitoring you to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Ensuring Safety and Reducing Risks: Innovations in Hip Surgery

As with any surgery, there are some risks involved, but advances in medical technology and surgical techniques have greatly reduced these. Common complications such as infection, blood clots or implant loosening are carefully managed by strict safety protocols and state-of-the-art monitoring. The Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society notes, “A consensus recommendation was reached by the group after critical appraisal of the literature” (Wainwright et al., 2019), demonstrating the collaborative, evidence-based approach to minimising risks. MSK Doctors follow these guidelines closely, incorporating the latest national advice on the use of bone cement and other safety measures. The highly experienced team, led by Professor Lee, ensures patients receive care of the highest standard, enhancing trust in the process.

Immediate Recovery: From the Recovery Room to Early Rehabilitation

After your surgery, you’ll spend time in the recovery room where nurses will keep a close eye on your vital signs and help manage your pain to keep you comfortable. Pain relief is tailored to your needs, encouraging you to start moving as soon as it’s safe to do so. Physiotherapists will be there from the start, guiding gentle exercises to improve circulation and prevent stiffness. Typically, patients stay in hospital for a few days and are discharged once they can manage essential daily tasks and walk safely with aids. The ERAS guidelines reiterate, “Early mobilisation is a core component of the pathway” (Wainwright et al., 2019), helping set realistic expectations. Throughout your recovery, the MSK Doctors team, under Professor Lee’s guidance, provide clear advice and continuous support to facilitate a steady recovery.

Your Path Forward: Aftercare, Support, and Returning Home

Leaving hospital marks the start of an important recovery phase at home. You will receive detailed instructions on wound care, medication, and activity restrictions to promote healing. Follow-up appointments allow your surgical team to monitor your progress and address any concerns. MSK Doctors also provide ongoing support, including physiotherapy and educational materials, helping you stay engaged and informed. Professor Paul Lee and his team focus on tailoring aftercare to each patient’s unique needs. It’s useful to know that hip replacements are durable: “patients and surgeons can expect a hip replacement to last 25 years in around 58% of patients” (Evans et al., 2019). Although recovery times vary, most patients enjoy marked improvements in pain relief and mobility, restoring confidence and improving quality of life.

Visual aids such as simple diagrams showing the hip anatomy, different implant types, and a recovery timeline can be very helpful for understanding and reassurance as you prepare for hip replacement surgery.

References

• Wainwright, T., Gill, M., McDonald, D., Middleton, R., Reed, M., Sahota, O., Yates, P., & Ljungqvist, O. (2019). Consensus statement for perioperative care in total hip replacement and total knee replacement surgery: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®) Society recommendations. Acta Orthopaedica, 90(3), 269–282. https://doi.org/10.1080/17453674.2019.1683790
• Evans, J. T., Evans, J., Walker, R., Blom, A., Whitehouse, M., & Sayers, A. (2019). How long does a hip replacement last? A systematic review and meta-analysis of case series and national registry reports with more than 15 years of follow-up. The Lancet, 393(10172), 647–654. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31665-9
• Ackerman, I., Bohensky, M., Zomer, E., Tacey, M., Gorelik, A., Brand, C., & de Steiger, R. D. (2019). The projected burden of primary total knee and hip replacement for osteoarthritis in Australia to the year 2030. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 20, 90. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-019-2411-9