After the Procedure:

You will stay in the hospital for 3 to 5 days. But full recovery will take from 2 to 3 months to a year.

After surgery:

• You will have a large dressing (bandage) over your surgical cut. A small drainage tube may be placed during surgery to help drain blood that collects in your hip joint after surgery.
• You will have an IV (a catheter or tube, that is inserted into a vein, usually in your arm). You will receive fluids through the IV until you are able to drink on your own.
• You may have a Foley catheter inserted into your bladder to drain urine. Usually it is removed 2 or 3 days after surgery.
• You will wear special compression stockings on your legs. These stockings improve blood flow and reduce your risk of getting blood clots.
• Most people will also take blood-thinning medicine to reduce the risk of blood clots.
• You may be taught how to use a device called a spirometer and do deep breathing and coughing exercises. Doing these exercises will help prevent pneumonia.
• Your doctor will prescribe pain medicines to control your pain. Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.

You will be encouraged to start moving and walking as soon as the first day after surgery.

• You will be helped out of bed to a chair on the first day after surgery. You may even be asked to try walking.
• When you are in bed, bend and straighten your ankles often. You will also be taught other leg exercises to do while you are in bed to prevent blood clots. It is important to do these exercises.
• You will be encouraged to do as much as you can for yourself by the second day. This includes going to the bathroom and taking walks in the hallways, always with someone helping you.
• You will learn the proper positions for your legs and hips.

Some people need a short stay in a rehabilitation center after they leave the hospital and before they go home. At a rehab center, you will learn how to safely do your daily activities on your own.

Outlook (Prognosis):

Hip replacement surgery results are usually excellent. Most or all of your pain and stiffness should go away.

Some people may have problems with infection, loosening, or even dislocation of the new hip joint.

Over time -- sometimes as long as 15 - 20 years -- the artificial hip joint will loosen. You may need a second replacement.

Younger, more active people may wear out parts of their new hip. It may need to be replaced before the artificial hip loosens.