In the Hospital

5. Admission to Hospital
On the day of your operation you will check into the hospital at the reception desk in the main lobby at the time given to you by our office during your pre-op visit. This time is dependent on the time your operation is scheduled. Usually we want you to check in 2 hours prior to the start time for the surgery.  You will be directed to the admitting office to complete registration and  then  be escorted to the AM Admission pre-op unit. Your family may accompany you to this unit. While in the pre-op unit an I.V. will be started by the nurse or I.V. therapist. Your family can remain with you until you are taken to surgery and then they will be directed to the waiting room close to the surgery suite.

6. Just Prior to Surgery
 Your surgeon will see you in the AM Admission Pre-op Unit to answer any last minute questions. You will also be seen by the anesthesiologist. The operating room nurse will go over some last minute details. ..

7. In The Operating Room
After you have been seen by the operating room nurse and the anesthesiologist, you will be taken to the operating room. After induction of anesthesia you will be turned on your side and the leg and hip will be prepared with sterilizing solution and the surgical drapes applied. The surgery itself takes between 2-3 hours depending upon the complexity of the surgery. Counting the time for insertion of lines, positioning, and emergence from anesthesia, this usually represents a total time in the operating room of 3-4 hours.

8. Immediately After Surgery
After surgery, you will be taken to the recovery room where you will gradually become more and more awake. The usual stay in the recovery room is 1-2 hours.
As the sedation wears off, you will most likely still have some numbness in your legs due to the spinal anesthetic. This will be nearly gone when you leave the recovery room. You will also be aware of the fact that you have a dressing on your hip, and coming out of the dressing, may be one or more drains which will be left in place for 1-2 days. You will have a catheter in your bladder, which will also be removed in 1-2 days. You will have pneumatic compression stockings on both legs that have been applied after the induction of anesthesia but before the start of surgery. They help to prevent blood clots in the leg.
Once you are transferred to the Orthopaedic Floor (4 North), your family can see you. It will be a busy time initially as the nurses go through their admitting procedures. If you were the first case of the day, the physical therapist may see you

9. The Post Operative Hospital Stay
On the first postoperative day, the physiotherapist will help you out of bed and you will stand at the bedside for a few moments. You will be asked to walk using a walker.. The therapist will  instruct you on certain exercises to perform in bed. To prevent problems with the lungs postoperatively you will be given an incentive spirometer (an exercise machine for your lungs) which you should use at least once an hour while you are awake in the first 24 to 36 hours after surgery. This helps you to re-inflate your lungs and avoid pneumonia.  You will have two therapy sessions daily. On the second post-operative day, you will begin to work on getting in and out of bed by yourself, sitting in a chair and arising and using the bathroom. Most patients are ready for discharge by the second or third post-operative day.

10. Re-Learning Activities of Daily Living
Initially, after surgery you will have a catheter in your bladder so that urination will not be a problem. After this is removed, you will need either a bedpan or use of the bathroom with an elevated toilet seat. By the end of your hospital stay, you should be independent getting in and out of bed, using the bathroom and performing routine activities of daily living. In addition to the physical therapist, and occupational therapist, the nursing staff will work with you on these functions. The key to going home is being functionally independent, having a dry, well healing wound with no temperature elevation and adequate pain control using oral medication. If you are unable to achieve independence in the activities of daily living by the third post-operative day, or if you have insufficient help at home (see below), you may require a short term stay in a rehabilitation unit at a convalescent home for additional therapy.