After Surgery

Immediately after surgery, you will wake up in the recovery room. You may wake up feeling a bit groggy. Dr Kohan and his staff will monitor you, checking your blood pressure, temperature and pulse. Dr Kerr will assess your pain. Post-operative x-rays will be performed in recovery. After 45 minutes - 1 hour you will then be transferred back to your room on the ward.

When you arrive to your room, you will have:

• Compression garment. To be removed 48hrs after surgery
• 2 drains. To be removed before discharge.
• TED Stockings (knee high white stockings) must be worn for 2 weeks after surgery.
• Drip, this will provide hydrationand blood if you need it.

Post-operative Care

Medications:

Postoperative pain is dealt with by a medication program Dr Kerr has devised. This Program involves a combination of drugs designed to eliminate your pain. Dr Kerr will discuss this program at length with you. If you have any questions please contact the office.

Precautions:

There are precautions necessary to undertake after hip surgery. The major precaution is limiting hip bending. With your new hip, your safe maximum hip bend is 90 degrees. This precaution is in place for 1 - 2 weeks, depending on Dr Kohan's orders.

There are four rules of thumb to remember to keep your hip in position:

• When sitting, keep your knees below your hips, Sitting on a small pillow helps
• Avoid crossing your legs while lying down or sitting.
• Avoid bending over at the waist.
• Sit with your knees 10 - 20cm apart.

Incision Care

• The incision is closed with skin staples. These need to be removed 10 days after surgery.
• You may not get the incision wet until the staples are removed, therefore you must sponge bath.
• You may shower 2 days after the sutures are removed, but may not bathe or swim until 2 weeks from surgery.
• You may apply Vitamin E or some moisturising lotion to the incision after the staples are removed.
• Some swelling and warmth is expected after surgery. If you develop increased redness, drainage, or fever, please call the office.

Walking

You will be out of bed and walking within 4 hours after surgery. Upon discharge from hospital you will be walking with crutches. You may discontinue using crutches after being assessed by Dr Kohan or Rebecca, 1 - 2 weeks after surgery.

After this time you may use a cane, or if you feel confident you may discontinue using any walking aids.

You may go up and down stairs as needed, but only straight legged for the first 2 weeks. After this time there should be enough flexibility and repair from the muscles around your hip.

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