Wound Care Instructions Total Hip Arthroplasty

 

•        Your incision will be closed with either staples or a Dermabond surgical glue dressing which will be removed at your 1st follow-up appointment (two weeks post-op).  Please leave your gauze dressings in place for at least three days after surgery unless it becomes saturated with blood, in which case you should remove the dressing, cleanse the wound, and re-apply a new clean dressing.  If dressing changes are required more than once daily due to bleeding/oozing please contact our office for further advice.  It is OK to take brief showers beginning post-op day three if drainage has ceased, but please do not soak the incision in the bath, pool, hot-tub, lake, etc.  After you have showered allow the incision to dry and then cover it with new clean dry gauze and tape.  You do not need to apply any antibiotic ointment to the incision.   It is not required to shower/bathe daily or change your dressings daily.  Please do not use any scar treatment creams/ointments (such as Mederma or Vitamin E) until one month post-op. 

 

•       Clear and/or bloody drainage from the incision may occur for several days and is normal.  If there is any significant redness surrounding the incision or yellow drainage from the wound please monitor closely.  Warmth, and swelling is normal and part of the healing process which can last up to 6-9 months after your surgery. 

 

•       Applying ice frequently will help control swelling.  Please use ice packs over the incision 30-45 minutes at a time and repeat 5 times daily for the first two weeks.  Place a thin towel between the ice pack and your skin to prevent frostbite injury.  

 

•       You can anticipate significant bruising and swelling in the thigh which can extend down into the calf, ankle, and foot.  Elevating the leg frequently will help control swelling in addition to frequent icing. 

 

•       Your hip/thigh may appear “larger” in size for up to a year, or until the soft tissue healing process is complete. 

 

•       There will be numbness immediately surrounding the incision.  Small superficial sensory skin nerves must be cut through to access the hip joint for your replacement. 

 

•       At your two week follow-up further wound care instructions will be provided if necessary.

 

•       Please contact our office through MyChart of call 270-417-7940 if you have any concerns and our office staff will be happy to help you.