Total hip replacement is a type of surgery to replace a damaged hip joint. Minimally invasive surgery uses one or more small cuts (incisions) instead of one large cut. The procedure is done by an orthopedic surgeon. This is a doctor with extra training in treating bone, joint, and muscle problems.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take. This includes:

• Over-the-counter medicines, such as ibuprofen
• Vitamins
• Herbs
• Other supplements

And tell your doctor if you:

• Have had any recent changes in your health, such as an infection or fever.
• Are sensitive or allergic to any medicines, latex, tape, or local or general anesthesia.
• Are pregnant or think you may be.

Before your surgery, you may need imaging tests. These may include ultrasound, X-rays, CT scan, or MRI. You may have other tests, such as blood tests.

Talk with your doctor about how to get ready for your surgery. You may need to stop taking medicines before the procedure. These include blood thinners and aspirin. If you smoke, vape, or use other tobacco or nicotine products, stop before your surgery. Smoking can delay healing. Talk with your doctor if you need help to stop.

Also make sure to:

• Ask a family member or friend to take you home from the hospital.
• Follow all directions you are given for not eating or drinking before surgery.
• Follow all other instructions from your doctor.

You will be asked to sign a consent form. This gives your doctor permission to do the procedure. Read the form carefully. Ask questions if you have concerns or something is not clear.

You will also need to plan some changes at home to help you recover. Talk with your doctor about what to expect. You may need to:

• Go to a rehab facility or have rehab at home.
• Get extra help at home with bathing and dressing, meals, or shopping.
• Make changes to your home to prevent falls and make your recovery easier. This may be a raised toilet seat, grab bars, or handrails.

Your orthopedic surgeon will work with a team of nurses and staff. This surgery may be done using a few small incisions. Ask your surgeon about the details of your surgery. The surgery may take a few hours. In general, here is what you can expect:

• You may have general anesthesia. This is a medicine that lets you comfortably sleep through the surgery. You will not be awake or feel any pain. Another choice is medicine to numb the area (regional anesthesia). This is given along with medicine to help you relax and sleep (sedation).
• A doctor will watch your heart rate, breathing, oxygen level, and blood pressure during the surgery.
• You may be given antibiotics during and after the surgery. This is to help prevent infection.
• After cleaning the skin, the surgeon makes one or two small incisions through the skin and muscles near the hip.
• The surgeon takes the femoral head out of the joint socket.
• They replace the femoral head with a metal one.
• The surgeon then removes the damaged cartilage and bone from the joint socket.
• They put a metal cup into the socket.
• The surgeon places the femoral head back in the socket.
• They then close the layers of muscle and skin with stitches or staples.

Talk with your surgeon about what you can expect after your surgery. You may be able to leave the hospital the same day. Or you may spend 1 to 3 days in the hospital after surgery. Before leaving the hospital, you will likely have X-rays taken of your hip. This is to check the surgery.

You will likely have some pain after the surgery. Your doctor will tell you what pain medicine you can take. You can also use ice packs to help ease pain and swelling. You might have some fluid draining from your incisions. This is normal.

You will get instructions about how you can move your hip and leg. You may need to use crutches, a cane, or walker for a few days or weeks.

Follow all your doctor's instructions. Your surgeon may tell you to:

• Take prescription medicine to prevent blood clots.
• Not take some medicines for pain that may delay bone healing.
• Eat foods high in calcium and vitamin D to help with bone healing.

Make sure to keep all your follow-up appointments. You may need to have your stitches or staples removed 1 week or so after your surgery.

You will be prescribed physical therapy. This is to improve the strength and movement of your leg. It improves your chances of a full recovery. The therapy may include treatments and exercises. You will likely be able to return to light activities within 2 weeks of the surgery.

You may need another hip surgery 10 to 20 years after your first surgery. You can help delay the follow-up surgery by doing regular exercise and preventing falls.

Call 911 right away if you have either of these:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath

Contact your doctor right away if you have any of these:

• Hip pain that gets worse
• Pain, swelling, or redness in your calf or leg not near your incision
• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your doctor
• Chills
• Swelling or redness at the incision site that gets worse
• Fluid leaking or bad smell from the incision