Medical Evaluation

If you decide to have hip replacement surgery, you may be asked to have a complete physical examination by your primary care doctor before your surgical procedure. This is needed to assess your health and identify conditions that can interfere with your surgery or recovery.

Tests

Several tests may be needed to help plan your surgery: Blood and urine samples may be tested. Individuals with a history of recent or frequent urinary infections and older men with prostate disease should consider a urological evaluation before surgery.

EKG - Provides information regarding the condition of the heart for surgery.

• Chest x-ray - Provides information about the respiratory status of the individual.
• Skin Infections Free-Your skin should not have any infections or irritations before surgery. If either is present, contact your orthopedic surgeon for a program to improve your skin before surgery.

Blood Donations

A blood transfusion is often necessary after hip surgery. One option is auto transfusion after surgery. You may be advised to donate your own blood prior to surgery. It will be stored in the event you need blood after surgery.

Medications

Consult your orthopedic surgeon about the medications you are taking. Your orthopedists will advise you which medications you should stop or can continue taking before surgery. An anesthesiologist explains what types and options of anesthesia are available for hip surgery

Weight Loss Program

If you are overweight, your doctor may ask you to lose some weight before surgery to minimize the stress on your new hip and possibly decrease the risks of surgery

Dental Check Up

Infections after hip replacement are not common, an infection can occur if bacteria enter your bloodstream. Bacterial Infections can happen during dental procedures, you should consider getting treatment for dental disease before your hip replacement surgery. Routine cleaning of your teeth should be delayed for several weeks after surgery.

The doctor may ask you for more specialized tests, depending on the causes of the pain:

• (MRI) Magnetic resonance imaging: An MRI uses a large magnet, radio waves, and a computer to generate images of the head and back. It is helpful in diagnosing avascular necrosis.
• (CAT scan) Computed tomography: It is most often used to evaluate the severity of avascular necrosis and to obtain a more accurate picture of malformed or unusually shaped joints.
• Aspiration: Aspiration is a procedure in which fluid is withdrawn from the joint and sent to a laboratory for analysis. It is done to check for infection in the joint.
• Arthrogram: An arthrogram is a special type of X ray in which a contrast dye is injected into the hip to outline the cavity surrounding the joint.
• Bone Densitometry: This test measures the density or strength of the patient's bones.