Your primary care physician will recommend an orthopedic surgeon if they think that hip replacement surgery is the best available option for you. The orthopedic surgeon will complete a full physical exam and evaluate your hip joint. They will order x-ray tests to develop a customized surgical plan.
Southern California Hip Institute (SCHI), led by board certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tigran Garabekyan, provides orthopedic surgery to patients in Los Angeles, Century City, Beverly Hills, CA, and surrounding communities.
Preparing For Hip Replacement Procedure
Your plastic surgeon will schedule a series of appointments for testing and clearance as part of preparing for the surgery. Studies may be performed during these appointments, such as EKG, urine analysis, lab testing, and x-rays.
The surgeon will assess medical risk before the surgery. The healthcare provider will check your body weight and review your medical history. They will evaluate your lower extremities before the surgery. These are a few actions that will be taken by the healthcare provider:
- Muscle testing: Strength of the hip extensors, flexors, adductors, and abductors. They will also check limb strength from below the hip.
- Vascular status and nerve testing: Perineal and sciatic nerve function testing, assessment of arterial pulses, and sensory examination will be performed. They will check for severe vascular disease.
- Palpation testing: Palpation helps in ruling out other causes of pain that are not emanating from the joint
- Range of motion testing: Hip abduction/adduction, flexion/extension, and internal/external rotation
- Trendelenburg sign: Tests the function and strength of the hip abductor muscles
- Measurement of leg length
X-rays of the pelvis and hips will be taken for assessing the structure and status of the hip joint.
Preparation Steps
You may be required to take certain steps for ensuring a safer and easier recovery following the surgery. You should consider making a few simple changes in your space so that things are within your reach. Arrange for a friend or family to take care of you following the surgery. Cut down or quit smoking to improve recovery rate.
You may find it helpful to lose weight (if needed), get an obstructive sleep apnea screening, and resolve any other conditions you may have. Don’t eat or drink after midnight if you are getting the surgery performed early morning.
Taking Medications
You should inform your surgeon of all medications you are on, including prescription and over-the-counter medications. Certain medications are not recommended to be used with anesthesia, such as blood thinners, ibuprofen, and aspirin. You may have to stop taking medications before you can get your hip replacement.
Visiting the Dentist
Consider having your teeth cleaned and cavities filled. This will ensure that you don’t need to visit a dentist in the first few months of surgery. It is better to not have any routine dental work performed for at least 3 months after a hip replacement surgery since the blood supply to hips is increased. Dental work may impact your healing.
Board certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tigran Garabekyan of the Southern California Hip Institute (SCHI) receives patients from Los Angeles, Century City, Beverly Hills, CA, and nearby areas for orthopedic surgery.
Contact the Southern California Hip Institute
Dr. Tigran Garabekyan is a board certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip preservation. To learn more about Southern California Hip Institute or to schedule a consultation, click here to contact us or call:
Century City / Los Angeles: 310.595.1030
Serving patients in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Century City, West Hollywood, North Hollywood Encino, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Burbank, Glendale and other neighboring cities in the greater Los Angeles, California area.
Also visit http://www.drgorthopedics.com/
