Leisure Yu MD, Phd

Leisure Yu MD, Inc. Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

Total Hip Replacement Surgery

Now that you are contemplating or have scheduled a Total Hip Arthroplasty surgery, (joint replacement/THA), here are few points to give you an overview of the procedure.

INDICATION FOR THA: THA surgery is done for arthritis that is painful and has failed conservative treatments. The surgery will take 2-3 hours. In general, recovery after hip surgery will take 1-3 weeks to get comfortable and may take 6-10 weeks to return to unassisted gait, and 6-10 months to resume normal activities. Physical therapy will be initiated after surgery. NOTE: Dr. Yu will customize the treatment to expedite your recovery while protecting the joint. Your timeline for outcome may be different than the average stated above.

PROCEDURE: The hip surgery is done under spinal or general anesthesia while you are “asleep”. It is an inpatient surgery and you will stay 3 days in the hospital for pain management and twice a day physical therapy.

Walker or Crutches: The physical therapists will teach you how to use the walker to maximize comfortable weight bearing activities.

Abduction Pillows: These pillows are wedged shaped and will keep your legs apart (abducted).

Patient Controlled Analgesic (PCA), and Pain Pills: After surgery, you will be able to reduce your pain level by squeezing a button to deliver narcotics directly into vein through the intravenous tubing. The nurses will show you how to use the pain pump. Pain pills will be provided to you once you are ready to come off the PCA pump. This usually occurs on day 2 after surgery.

Cryo-Pads: Circulating cooling pads will be added on top of your surgical dressing to reduce swelling and thereby decrease pain. It will be placed on your hip with Velcro straps. Do not be afraid to adjust the straps for comfort. Do not hesitate to remove it if you find it uncomfortable. Use it on for 2-4 hours and off for 1-2 hours for comfort. You may use it for your personal comfort for the first week or two after surgery. Cryo-pads will not be used in diabetic patients.

Foley Catheters: Catheters, a potential source of infection, are not inserted automatically. If you would like to have one please let Dr. Yu know. Nurses may also insert them as needed during nursing care.

GOING HOME: In most cases, you will go home after discharge from the hospital. Visiting home nurse and physical therapist visits will be arranged for you. Sometimes you may want to go to an extended nursing care facility for additional care. This will be arranged for you if needed.

REHABILITATION: Your scheduled return visits to Dr. Yu’s office will be in the first two weeks after the discharge from the hospital. Thereafter, your tentative subsequent visits will be in 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months.

Anticoagulant: To prevent blood clots, anticoagulants will be administered for 4 weeks after surgery.

Subsequent weeks: You should gradually resume normal activities with safety and without increasing hip pain. Physical Therapy will be continued for about 3-4 months or longer if needed. Use Cryo-pads for hip swelling which may persist for a few more months. Please do not drive until you have pain free motion of your leg and are able to walk unassisted.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to phone Dr. Yu. Office: (909) 799-3838 Office Fax: (909) 799-3830 Cell: (909) 214-2105 For more Patient Education go to www.OrthoInfo.org

If you have any problems with equipment failure following surgery, please call the carrier that provided the equipment. Dr. Yu usually uses TEAM POST-OP (800-339-9295); however, some insurance companies require use of other equipment providers. Please get a phone number from the representative that sets up your equipment.

Leisure Yu, M.D., Inc. 10459 Mt View Ave., Ste. D Loma Linda, CA 92354 (909) 799-3838 fax (909) 799-3830 www.leisureyumd.com