Day case total hip replacement: Expert insight on what’s involved

A new milestone in orthopaedic surgery, day case procedures are now a real option for some patients requiring total hip replacement. In this informative article, revered consultant orthopaedic surgeon Mr Senthil Kumar Velayudham shares his expert insight on how patients are prepared for day case total hip replacement surgery by a multi-disciplinary team of specialists and reveals how patients are helped to manage their journey to recovery in the comfort of their own home.

What is day case total hip replacement?

Day case total hip replacement is a significant advancement in patient care, allowing patients to go home on the same day as their surgery. It's part of an enhanced recovery program designed to speed up healing after total hip replacement, improve patient satisfaction, and reduce complications like deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

How are patients prepared for their operation?

This approach highlights the power of teamwork among various healthcare professionals to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients. Our team, including nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, anaesthesiologists, and surgeons, collaborates to prepare patients thoroughly for their procedure. This means that patients receive clear information about pre-surgery preparations, anaesthesia, minimally invasive surgery, recovery timelines, and symptom management.

A comprehensive assessment ensures patients are suitable for day case hip replacement, helping patients to feel confident about their treatment journey and setting expectations of what types of results they can benefit from. In addition, our advanced anaesthesia techniques ensure patients are pain-free during and after surgery, allowing quick recovery and early mobility with our specialised physiotherapy team.

What is the recovery process like following day case total hip replacement?

Minimally invasive hip replacement techniques preserve muscle function, reduce blood loss, and lower the risk of post-surgery issues like haematoma. These approaches, combined with precise hip anatomy restoration and secure implant fixation, enable patients to start moving early and safely, guided by our physiotherapy and nursing teams.

Before discharge, each patient receives a personalised recovery plan, including exercises and pain management, tailored by our ward team. Patients are only discharged when it's medically safe and the patient feels confident about starting their recovery journey at home.

Upon discharge, patients receive guidance on managing symptoms and our contact information for any concerns or questions. Although rare, complications can occur but with post-discharge management, patients can be confident that any issues will be detected quickly so that effective interventions can be put in place.

Can all patients who require a total hip replacement undergo day case surgery?

It's important to note that day case total hip replacement isn't suitable for everyone, and only a relatively small number of patients qualify. Some planned day case surgeries may need adjustments due to factors like anaesthesia recovery, minor complications, or social considerations.

Patient eligibility also depends on factors like the complexity of the hip replacement, underlying health issues, physical fitness, and social support. However, our enhanced recovery program has been proven to increase patient satisfaction and reduce hospital stays.

Twenty years ago, patients typically spent ten days in the hospital after hip replacement surgery. We've reduced this to just 1–2 days for most patients, placing us in the top two per cent in the UK. We're proud to continue developing this approach and offering many patients day case total hip replacement.

Looking forward, there's potential for further progress, with total hip replacement mirroring some hand surgery procedures where patients go home directly from the recovery unit. It's an exciting time for hip specialists dedicated to improving patient care in hip replacement surgery.




If you require hip replacement surgery and wish to discuss your suitability for a day case procedure, you can schedule a consultation with Mr Velayudham by visiting his Top Doctors profile.