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Same-Day Hip Surgery: What to Expect

How Same-Day Hip Surgery Works

Hip replacement surgery is a big decision that creates an understandable amount of apprehension. 

Fully understanding the entire same-day hip surgery process before deciding makes patients more comfortable with the idea of undergoing major surgery. 

At CORE, we like to fully educate our patients and make sure there are no surprises on the day of surgery.

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Leading Up to Surgery

Please note any current medical conditions, medications, medical and surgical history, and allergies. 

All blood work should be done three weeks before surgery to allow ample time for your PCP, surgeon, and anesthesiologist to review. 

This is required to be done within 30 days of the procedure.

Two weeks before surgery, you will meet with Dr. Kuesis to review and discuss the process. 

In the week leading up to your surgery, there are a few important things to remember:

  • • No eating or drinking eight hours before surgery
  • • Do not take blood-thinning medications such as Advil, Aleve, Motrin, or blood-thinning products like Aspirin, Coumadin, etc. (any blood thinner prescribed by a doctor must get instructions on when how to stop/resume).
  • • You should arrange for transportation post-surgery

You can access all necessary forms here, including further instructions and a patient checklist.

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Checking In for Surgery

Upon arrival, you will be led to your room, where our nurses review everything with you once more before signing the necessary consent forms. Please have your insurance card with you.

Once complete, you will change into your gown, and a nurse gets your IV started.

Finally, Dr. Kuesis will stop by to assign your hip (visibly mark the hip that will be operated on) and give you medication for relaxation.

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Day of Surgery

The medical professionals at CORE Orthopedics understand that hip replacement surgery is a big commitment. 

That’s why we’re committed to ensuring no surprises, especially on the day of surgery. 

Here’s what you can expect to happen during the hip replacement surgery process:

  1. 1. First, you’ll be admitted to the hospital or surgery center and complete any necessary intake paperwork/forms before you are taken back and given a room.
  2. 2. A nurse will record your vital signs — temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, etc.
  3. 3. You’ll be asked to change into a clean hospital gown. Your nurse will instruct you on what articles of clothing need to be removed. You might be allowed to leave on undergarments for comfort.
  4. 4. You’ll be asked to remove all jewelry, dentures, contact lenses, and nail polish if you haven’t done so already. We always recommend arriving at the site of your surgery with these things already removed to simplify your life.
  5. 5. You’ll be given an IV to administer fluids and medication during and after the procedure.
  6. 6. Your hip will be scrubbed and shaved to clean the area and prepare for surgery.
  7. 7. An anesthesiologist will discuss the type of anesthesia that will be used and administer it.
  8. 8. Your surgeon will confirm and initial the surgical site.
  9. 9. You will be given a sedative to help you relax.
  10. 10. You will be taken back to the OR suite

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During Surgery

Hip surgery is a procedure in which a surgeon removes the damaged bone and cartilage of a hip joint with arthritis and replaces it with a smooth, artificial joint implant often made of metal or plastic components.

The goals of hip surgery vary from patient to patient but often include the elimination of joint pain caused by bone-on-bone contact.

The physicians at CORE Orthopedics and Sports Medicine recommend hip replacement surgery after other, more conservative measures have failed to provide pain relief. 

While hip surgery is a big decision since it’s a major surgery requiring extensive after-care, it has drastically improved the quality of life in many patients.

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The Implant

At CORE Orthopedics, we use hip replacement implants that consist of four components:

  • • A hip stem is implanted in the thigh bone shaft or femur. The implant is usually made of a biocompatible metal like titanium.
  • • A femoral head to replace the “ball” part of the hip’s ball and socket design.
  • • A two-part hemispherical or “cup-like” component comprised of a metal shell and a plastic liner.
  • • New femoral head, which sits inside the plastic liner and rotates to recreate the movement of the original joint.

The Procedure

The hip replacement procedure is usually done one of two ways. 

The first is the traditional procedure, which is more invasive and requires a larger incision, while the second is considered minimally invasive.

In standard hip replacement surgeries, your surgeon will adhere to the following steps:

  1. 1. Administer anesthesia to relax your muscles and put you into a deep sleep
  2. 2. Cut an 8-10 inch incision along the side of your hip and move the muscles connected to the thigh bone to expose the hip joint
  3. 3. Remove the ball part of the joint by cutting the thigh bone
  4. 4. Attach the artificial joint to the thigh bone using cement or other material
  5. 5. Attach the replacement socket to the hip bone
  6. 6. Reattach the muscles and close the incision

Most hip replacements are performed this way, but sometimes we perform a less invasive procedure so that incisions are only 2 to 5 inches long. This technique is thought to help lower blood loss during surgery.

Your surgeon will discuss the technique they recommend for your particular case during the planning stages of your hip replacement surgery.

Important Safety Note

Hip replacement surgery is intended to relieve hip pain and improve hip function. However, implants may not produce the same feel or function as your original hip. 

Hip replacement surgery has potential risks, such as loosening, fracture, dislocation, wear, and infection, that may result in additional surgery. 

The longevity of implants depends on many factors, such as types of activities and weight. 

Do not perform high-impact activities such as running and jumping unless your surgeon tells you the bone has healed and these activities are acceptable. 

Early device failure, breakage, or loosening may occur if you do not follow your surgeon’s limitations on activity level. Early failure can happen if you do not guard your hip joint from overloading due to activity level, failure to control body weight, or accidents such as falls. 

Talk to your doctor to determine what treatment may be best for you.

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After the Surgery

Once your surgery is complete, you will be moved to a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) to wake up and begin recovery. 

This is a critical care unit where our team closely monitors your vital signs, administers fluids, and starts the pain management regimen. 

A team member works with you to get out of bed, move to a chair, and begin walking. 

Before you are released to go home, you should be able to:

  • • Safely walk with crutches or a walker
  • • Eat food and drink liquids without vomiting
  • • Urinate without difficulty

In addition, all vital signs (e.g., blood pressure and heart rate) should be stable, and pain well-controlled.

Before discharge, a member of our team will deliver easy-to-understand instructions for recovery. These include necessary prescriptions and guidance regarding activity, wound care, and who to contact in the event of a problem.

In-home physical therapy starts the next day.

You can see more information and guidance for recovering from your operation safely and comfortably here.

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Anthony

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Anthony

“I am achieving goals each physical therapy session.”

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Isabella

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Isabella

“Dr. Kuesis was there with me the entire time.”

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Julie

“That same of day the surgery I was standing. I was able to get around well within 3 or 4 days.”

Bilateral Hip Patient of Dr. Daniel Kuesis

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