Joint Replacement Surgery

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 9, 2025.

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AMBULATORY CARE:

What you need to know about joint replacement surgery:

Joint replacement surgery is done to repair or replace part or all of a joint. The joint may be damaged by injury or disease and can be repaired or replaced with a new one. You may try other treatments before joint replacement surgery, such as steroid injections or medicines. The goals of joint replacement are pain relief and increased function. Knee, hip, and shoulder joints are the most common joints replaced.

How to prepare for joint replacement surgery:

• Your healthcare provider will talk to you about how to prepare for surgery. Your provider may tell you not to eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of your surgery. Arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you.
• Some medicines will need to be stopped weeks before surgery. These medicines include blood thinning medicine, such as aspirin and ibuprofen. It also includes some antirheumatic medicines. Make sure your healthcare provider knows all medicines you are taking. Ask how long before surgery to stop taking them.

What will happen during joint replacement surgery:

• You may be given general anesthesia to keep you asleep and free from pain during surgery. You may instead be given regional anesthesia to keep you numb from the waist down. With regional anesthesia, you may still feel pressure or pushing during surgery, but you should not feel any pain.
• Your surgeon will make an incision over your joint. Your surgeon will remove the damaged parts of your joint and replace them with an implant. The new joint may be made out of metal, plastic, ceramic, or other materials. Your surgeon may secure it with medical cement.
• Your surgeon will move the muscles and other tissues back into place. Your surgeon will close your incision with stitches or staples. Your surgeon may use strips of medical tape and a bandage to cover your wound.

What will happen after joint replacement surgery:

• It is normal to have increased stiffness and pain after surgery. Your pain and stiffness should get better with exercise.
• Do not get out of bed until your healthcare provider says it is okay. Healthcare providers will teach you how to sit up and move without causing damage to your joint. A physical therapist will work with you after your surgery. When you walk the same day after surgery, it helps decrease pain and improves the function of your joint. You may need to use crutches or a walker.
• You may need to stay in the hospital, or you may go home shortly after surgery. Your healthcare provider may talk to you about rehabilitation you can do at home. A physical therapist can teach you exercises to help increase strength and prevent stiffness.

Risks of joint replacement surgery:

• You may have more pain or your joint movement may not be as stable as it was before your surgery. You may have bone loss, or the bones near the implant area may break or crack. You may bleed more than expected or get an infection. Your nerves, blood vessels, ligaments, or muscles may be damaged during surgery.
• Your implant may become loose or move out of place. If this happens, you may need another surgery to replace the implant. You may need surgery to remove your implant if you have an allergic reaction to the materials. You may get a blood clot in your limb. This may become life-threatening.

Call your local emergency number (911 in the US), or have someone call if:

• You have chest pain when you take a deep breath or cough. You cough up blood.
• You suddenly feel lightheaded and short of breath.
• You have a seizure or feel confused.

Drugs used to treat this and similar conditions

Seek care immediately if:

• Your leg feels warm, tender, and painful. It may look swollen and red.
• Blood soaks through your bandage.
• Your incision comes apart.
• You cannot walk or move your joint, or the limb is numb.

Call your surgeon if:

• You have a fever or chills.
• Your incision is red, swollen, or draining pus.
• You have trouble moving or bending your joint.
• You have more pain and swelling in your joint, even after you take pain medicine.
• You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.

Medicines:

You may need any of the following:

• Prescription pain medicine may be given. Ask your healthcare provider how to take this medicine safely. Some prescription pain medicines contain acetaminophen. Do not take other medicines that contain acetaminophen without talking to your healthcare provider. Too much acetaminophen may cause liver damage. Prescription pain medicine may cause constipation. Ask your healthcare provider how to prevent or treat constipation.
• NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen, help decrease swelling, pain, and fever. NSAIDs can cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems in certain people. If you take blood thinner medicine, always ask your healthcare provider if NSAIDs are safe for you. Always read the medicine label and follow directions.
• Antibiotics help treat or prevent an infection caused by bacteria.
• Blood thinners help prevent blood clots. Clots can cause strokes, heart attacks, and death. Many types of blood thinners are available. Your healthcare provider will give you specific instructions for the type you are given. The following are general safety guidelines to follow while you are taking a blood thinner:
  • Watch for bleeding and bruising. Watch for bleeding from your gums or nose. Watch for blood in your urine and bowel movements. Use a soft washcloth on your skin, and a soft toothbrush to brush your teeth. This can keep your skin and gums from bleeding. If you shave, use an electric shaver. Do not play contact sports.
  • Tell your dentist and other healthcare providers that you take a blood thinner. Wear a bracelet or necklace that says you take this medicine.
  • Do not start or stop any other medicines or supplements unless your healthcare provider tells you to. Many medicines and supplements cannot be used with blood thinners.
  • Take your blood thinner exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Do not skip a dose or take less than prescribed. Tell your provider right away if you forget to take your blood thinner, or if you take too much.
• Take your medicine as directed. Contact your healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not helping or if you have side effects. Tell your provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency.

Care for your incision area as directed:

Ask how and when to change your bandage and clean your incision area. Do not get the area wet until your healthcare provider says it is okay. When it is okay to bathe, do not scrub the area. Just let water run over it. Dry the area and put on new, clean bandages as directed. Change your bandages when they get wet or dirty. Do not put powders or lotions over your incision area. Check the area every day for signs of infection, such as swelling, redness, or pus.

Self-care:

• Apply ice on the surgery area for 15 to 20 minutes every hour or as directed. Use an ice pack, or put crushed ice in a plastic bag. Cover it with a towel. Ice helps prevent tissue damage and decreases swelling and pain.
• Use support devices as directed. A cane, walker, crutches, or raised toilet seat will help decrease your risk of falling. A shower chair or bench can help limit the time you are standing when you bathe. Remove any objects, such as rugs, cords, or other hazards, that may cause you to fall.
• Go to physical therapy, if directed. A physical therapist teaches you exercises to help improve movement and strength, and to decrease pain.

Follow up with your surgeon as directed:

You may need to return to have your incision area checked and stitches or staples removed. Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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