After Your Total Hip Replacement Surgery

Once you are in your inpatient room, you will encounter various conditions and activities:

Vital signs:

Your vital signs, which consist of blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate and temperature, are taken frequently after surgery. The circulation of blood and motion in your legs will also be assessed regularly.

Breathing and exercise:

You will be asked to breathe deeply, to use your inspirometer (described on following pages) and to exercise your legs often in order to prevent complications.

Surgical dressing and drainage:

You will have a bulky dressing around the surgical site. You may have a very thin tubing inserted into the surgical site will be attached to a drain. This drainage tube is necessary to collect any bloody fluid that has accumulated under the skin and muscle. Both the bulky dressing and surgical drain will be removed a day or so after surgery.

Urination after surgery:

Most patients may have a catheter after surgery. This catheter usually remains in place for 24 to 48 hours and then removed by your nurse. Other patients may not have a catheter. At times, you may have problems urinating. This may be due the effects of anesthesia, pain medication, or being in bed for a prolonged period of time. It may require temporary insertion of a catheter to remove the urine.

Blood transfusion:

A blood transfusion may be necessary to replace blood loss. If you or your family donated blood ahead of time, you will receive your donated unit(s).

Some key procedures which will promote healing and help prevent complications are described on the following pages. Of most importance, you will be introduced to precautions or restrictions of movement which you MUST observe.