Independent, sourced patient educationInformedSurgery
Hip Replacement Explained
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All topics
  1. What it is
  2. Who it helps
  3. Timing
  4. The procedure
  5. What a hemiarthroplasty is
  6. Hemi vs total hip
  7. Recovery after hip fracture
  8. Patient journey
  9. Recovery supplies
  10. Finding a surgeon
  11. Insurance and costs
  12. Questions to ask
  13. Implant designs
  14. Side-by-side
  15. Robotics and navigation
  16. US manufacturers
  17. What the evidence says
  18. Value analysis
  19. Resources
  20. Glossary
  21. References

For patients and families

Your patient journey

Every hospital does things a little differently, and your own team's instructions always come first. This is a general picture of planned hip replacement.

Before surgery

Getting ready

  • Strength and walking aids. Exercises before surgery and practice with a walker or crutches make the first days easier.46
  • Health check. Expect blood tests and a review of your medicines, especially blood thinners. Stopping smoking lowers infection risk.9
  • Prepare your home. Arrange help for the first week or two, raise low seats, and set up a clear path to the bathroom.46
Day of surgery

In the hospital

  • Anesthesia. Often a spinal anesthetic, or general anesthesia.
  • The operation. Usually about one to two hours.47
  • Up and moving. Many teams have you stand and walk the same day.
  • Going home. Some people go home the same day; many stay one night. In selected patients, same-day surgery is as safe as an overnight stay.31
After surgery

Recovery at home

  • Walking aids. A walker or crutches at first, then a cane, usually over several weeks.46
  • Hip precautions. You may or may not be given movement restrictions. Recent research questions whether they are needed for most patients. See hip precautions.
  • Blood clot prevention. You'll likely take a blood thinner for several weeks.12,13
  • Driving. Often between about two and six weeks, once you're off strong pain medicine. See driving.

For a week-by-week view, see the recovery timeline. For a broken hip, see recovery after a hip fracture.

Sources for this page

  1. Bedard NA, et al. Tobacco use and risk of wound complications and periprosthetic joint infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis of primary total joint arthroplasty procedures. J Arthroplasty. 2019;34(2):385-396.e4. doi:10.1016/j.arth.2018.09.089
  2. Sidhu VS, et al. Effect of aspirin vs enoxaparin on symptomatic venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty: the CRISTAL randomized trial. JAMA. 2022;328(8):719-727. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.13416
  3. Salazar CA, et al. Direct factor Xa inhibitors versus low molecular weight heparins or vitamin K antagonists for prevention of venous thromboembolism in elective primary hip or knee replacement or hip fracture repair. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2025;1(1):CD011762. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011762.pub2
  4. Bemelmans YFL, et al. Safety and efficacy of outpatient hip and knee arthroplasty: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2022;142(8):1775-1791. doi:10.1007/s00402-021-03811-5
  5. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthoInfo. Total hip replacement. orthoinfo.org/bodypart/hip-thigh/total-hip-replacement
  6. Mayo Clinic. Hip replacement. mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hip-replacement

All references