FOR PATIENTS
The Day of Surgery
Using the Antiseptic Sponge at Home
Shower at home the morning of your surgery using the antiseptic sponge you were given at the Hip and Knee Clinic. Rub the sponge over the skin surrounding the area of surgery until it becomes foamy from the antiseptic soap. Rinse away the soap and towel dry.
Contact the Hip and Knee Clinic nurse if you have any questions.
Arriving at the Hospital
You will be checked in by the admitting nurse on your day of surgery. A health care provider will confirm that you have followed your preoperative instructions and prepare you for surgery. Tell the nurse or doctor of any changes in your health since the Hip and Knee Clinic visit. An intravenous drip (IV) will be started before you go into the operating room so that medication and fluids can be given during and after surgery.
A family member or a friend may stay with you until you go into the operating room.
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In the Operating Room
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You will meet the anaesthesiologist before you go into the operating room. The anaesthesiologist is responsible for giving you medication, called anaesthetic, to reduce pain during your surgery. He or she will discuss with you the type of and the procedure for the anaesthetic to be used.
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You will be given the anaesthetic when you are on the operating table. A spinal anaesthetic is used most commonly. It numbs the lower part of the body but leaves the patient awake during surgery.
You will see different types of equipment used to monitor your condition during surgery, such as a heart monitor, a blood pressure cuff and an oxygen sensor attached to your finger.
Surgery involves making an incision in your hip, removing the damaged cup and ball parts and replacing them with a prosthesis, which is inserted through the incision. The muscles are then sutured and the skin is stapled or sutured closed. A dressing is applied over the area. A catheter will likely be placed in your bladder to drain the urine. If required, a hemovac will be inserted into the operative area to drain excels fluids/blood.
In the Recovery Room
Following surgery, you will be taken into the recovery room where your condition will be monitored. A nurse will ask you to take deep breaths and do foot and ankle exercises.
The nurse will also check the circulation and sensation in your leg and monitor your breathing, pulse, temperature, blood pressure and pain level. You will be in the recovery room for about an hour or until you are ready to go to the hospital room you will occupy for the next 3 to 4 days.
In Your Hospital Room
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Family members will be invited to your bedside once your nurse has checked your condition.
Your breathing, pulse, temperature and blood pressure will continue to be monitored once you are in your room. You will still have an intravenous to provide fluids and medication. You will now be awake enough to notice other tubes. You will have an oxygen tube resting under your nose and you may have a catheter in your bladder, as well as a drain (hemovac) in your hip. A nurse will show you where the call bell is located and how to use it to call for assistance. The side rails on your bed will be raised until the effects of the anaesthetic have worn off.
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A pillow will be placed between your legs to keep your hip properly aligned and your legs apart while in bed to reduce the risk of hip dislocation.
Post-operative pain management is very important. You must tell the nurses when you are feeling pain and ask for medication. When your pain is well controlled, you can perform leg exercises and daily activities more effectively and get the rest you need to recover.
You will be encouraged to breathe deeply and cough frequently to prevent post-operative lung problems.
At first, do not try to change your position or get out of bed without the help of a nurse. You will be shown how to use your arms and healthy leg to change positions in bed. Your physical therapist or nurse will tell you when you are ready to change your position in bed, sit at the edge of your bed, sit up in a chair without help, get out of bed and begin walking. You will stand on the day of surgery and be encouraged to walk.
