A hip replacement is a common type of surgery where a damaged hip joint is replaced with an artificial one. This can totally transform quality of life and offers relief from a very painful joint as well as improved mobility. Adults of any age can be considered for this surgery however it is most common for individuals between the ages of 60 and 80.
Mr Shah Punwar uses both cemented and uncemented stem systems usually with an uncemented metal socket. He only uses hip components with a 10A* rating which are proven to have excellent long-term results on the National Joint Registry (NJR). Mr Punwar will be happy to discuss the choice of implant and the NJR during consultations.
What To Expect Post Operatively
After hip replacement surgery, you will be cared for by Mr Punwar’s healthcare team who will monitor you and ensure that you are well hydrated and managing any pain. You can expect to be in hospital for at least a few days and Mr Punwar will check on you to ensure that you are regaining mobility and have a satisfactory post-operative X-ray.
Nausea, loss of appetite, and constipation are all common following surgery but will usually return to normal function after a few days. Medication can be prescribed to aid recovery from these.
It is very common to experience ankle swelling and some bruising around the operation site and this usually takes several months to resolve.
During the first four-6 weeks following surgery, some general hip precautions may be advised in order to protect the hip whilst the muscles are healing eg: sleeping on your back and avoiding leg crossing, however following this period your normal sleeping position and activities can be resumed.
It is generally recommended that you refrain from driving until 4-6 weeks post-surgery as you will need to ensure that you are able to perform an emergency stop and put your foot down on the brake and clutch safely.
Rehabilitation After Hip Replacement Surgery
Following hip replacement surgery, you should be able to put all of your weight through your new hip, however, you will be guided with a rehabilitation programme provided by a highly skilled physiotherapist. Initially, you may need the assistance of walking aids however you will quickly progress to becoming independent.
You will be advised to take analgesic medicine to help reduce any pain or discomfort and allow you to maximise the required physiotherapy in order to aid a rapid return to normal mobility. You will have regular check-ups with Mr Punwar to make sure that you are recovering well.
Complications After Hip Replacement Surgery
In order to prevent the risk of developing any blood clots post-surgery, you are likely to be prescribed anticoagulation medication in either injection or tablet formulations. You will also be provided with anti-embolism stockings to wear which are also designed to help reduce the risk of blood clots.
There is less than 1% chance that the ball joint can dislocate from the socket. But the highest chance of this happening is within the first 6 weeks as the tissues around the hip are not fully healed. This is why some general hip precautions are usually advised.
It is also important to monitor your surgical wound as this will need to be kept clean and dry with the dressing changed regularly in order to reduce the chances of any external infection occurring.
Get In Touch
If you would like to find out more information about hip replacement surgery, please get in touch to arrange a consultation with Mr Punwar.
