Postoperative Care

• Patients are kept in hospital for 2-4 days after surgery to allow adequate pain control, learn independent ambulation and regain adequate motion of the joint, under the supervision of the surgeon and physiotherapist.
• Dressing of the wound is done once before discharge, and one more dressing might be done at the comfort of patient’s home after a week. Sutures or staples are removed at the hospital 2-3 weeks after surgery.
• Normal bathing and cleansing of the limb is allowed after suture removal. With modern waterproof dressings, these activities can be allowed earlier, immediately after discharge from hospital.
• Normal diet is allowed at home, with emphasis on increased fluid and protein intake. Formal physiotherapy is not required for most patients, and patients only need to do self-exercises as taught by the physiotherapist in the hospital.
• Some walking aid, such as a walker or stick, is required for 4-8 weeks after surgery to assist in balance and weight-bearing. Normal, unassisted gait is allowed between 4 to 8 weeks after surgery. Driving too is possible by the same time.
• Land, air or sea travel is allowed after surgery for outstation or international patients. ‘Metal certificate’ is provided and should always be carried to prevent any problems with metal detectors at airports or other public places.
• Follow-up radiographs are taken at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after surgery, and annually thereafter. Lifelong follow-up is important after joint replacements to keep a check of prosthetic position and fixation, and detect any complications or loosening timely.
• All modern prostheses are compatible with MRI scanners, and patients can safely undergo MRI in future, if required.
• An artificial joint can get infected any time in life, and patients with joint replacements need to consult the surgeon and take antibiotic prophylaxis before undergoing any invasive medical procedure in future, such as a surgery or tooth extraction.