NURSING BEFORE AND AFTER HIP SURGERY: ESSENTIAL CARE FOR YOUR RECOVERY

Preparation and personalised support for a successful surgery

The decision to proceed with surgery, whether a total hip replacement or hip arthroscopy, is an important step to improve your quality of life. At Anca & Bacia, the nursing team plays a key role before and after surgery, ensuring you are well prepared and supported throughout every stage of the process. From the initial consultation to recovery, we are with you to clarify doubts, guide you in pre- and postoperative care, and ensure effective rehabilitation and care. Discover how our nursing services can make a difference in your journey.

Before surgery – what to expect

Preparation for surgery begins with an informed decision. At the hip orthopaedic consultation, the specialist will explain the benefits—such as pain relief, improved mobility, and functional gait recovery—as well as the associated risks, including infections or medical-anesthetic complications. After addressing all your questions, you will sign the informed consent, officially starting the surgical process.

Administrative steps and preoperative tests

  • Insurance approval: the hospital requests authorisation from your health insurance or provides a cost estimate if requested. Additional information may be required from the patient. For administrative questions, contact the Anca & Bacia secretariat.

  • Tests and anaesthesia consultation: before surgery, you will be contacted to undergo preoperative tests (blood work, electrocardiogram, among others) and an anaesthesia consultation to ensure you are fit for the procedure. In some cases, additional tests may be requested.

  • Nursing team recommendations: the team will get in touch with specific instructions, such as:

    • Fasting for at least 6 hours before surgery.

    • Showering with a chlorhexidine sponge to reduce the risk of surgical wound infection, based on studies demonstrating its effectiveness.

    • Completing a questionnaire about your hip function, to be submitted on the day of surgery. This will be repeated after recovery to assess progress.

Rehabilitation planning

It is essential to organise postoperative physiotherapy in advance. We recommend contacting specialised clinics to start rehabilitation within the first week after surgery, optimising the recovery of function and mobility. All postoperative logistics must be well planned and this is one of the essential steps for the full success of hip surgery.

After surgery – care and recovery

After surgery, the nursing team continues by your side to ensure a safe and comfortable recovery. As soon as the procedure is completed, your surgical contact will be informed.

First hours and days in the hospital

  • Recovery and hospital stay: after a few hours in the recovery room, you will be transferred to your ward room.
  • First standing: within the first 24 hours, with the support of a walker or crutches, you may place weight on the operated foot as tolerated. Daily physiotherapy will begin in the hospital, teaching rehabilitation exercises to help you regain autonomy quickly.
  • Initial mobility: thanks to the minimally invasive approach at Anca & Bacia, you will be able to mobilise the hip early on, without the need for aids such as raised toilet seats, abduction pillows, or other devices typically recommended in hip surgeries.

Hospital discharge and home care

After 2-3 days of hospital stay, you will be discharged with the following instructions from the nursing team:

  • Medication:

    • Enoxaparin injections to prevent thromboembolic events.

    • Analgesics, anti-inflammatories, and antibiotics to control pain and prevent infections.

  • Compression stockings:
    Wear class I stockings (20-30 mmHg) to improve circulation and reduce the risk of swelling.

  • Surgical dressing:
    If the dressing leaks, gets wet, or detaches, contact the hospital unit and go to the nursing office at the outpatient clinic for replacement and wound check.

  • Rehabilitation:
    Continue the exercises learned in the hospital (20-30 minutes, 2-3 times a day), respecting pain and swelling. Schedule the postoperative follow-up appointment.

“An excellent team that treats both the most common and the most complex hip pathologies”