COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT

PREPARING YOURSELF

If surgery cannot be avoided to solve your hip problem, proper preparation will accelerate your rehabilitation and reduce the risk of complications . Take the following guidelines and considerations into account in your preparation:

Think positive!
An optimistic attitude undeniably has a positive influence on the success of hip surgery and the subsequent rehabilitation period.

Nutrition
Iron-rich foods such as red meat, liver, beans, nuts and dried fruits help your body recuperate after surgery.

Avoid overweight
Losing weight is one of the best ways to optimise the results of the operation. Be sure to consult your doctor first before starting a diet, however.

Stop smoking
Giving up smoking reduces the risk of complications during and after your operation. The ingrowth of a prosthesis and the bone healing after hip surgery are promoted if you do not smoke.

Infections
Ensure that all infections are cured before the operation. Infections or permanent wounds could spread throughout your body during surgery, and could infect your new hip prosthesis.
We refer here, for example, to the following infections: dental abscesses, inflamed gums, bladder infections, inflamed leg ulcers, colds and flu. In the event of a suspected infection, please notify your surgeon as soon as possible. The presence of an infection could mean that your operation would have to be postponed to a later date. Prevention of a prosthesis infection is better than having to recover from it!

Medicines
If you have any questions about the use of certain medicines, please consult your GP or the hospital staff.

Skin
It is important that your skin is free from disorders (such as infected corns, bunions, insect bites, wounds, animal scratches) and is free from infection before surgery. This is especially important if you have skin problems such as eczema or psoriasis. Please consult your GP if any conditions develop, such as an ulcer on your leg or a rash.

Existing conditions
To avoid delaying your surgery, it is important to monitor existing conditions, such as diabetes, and to address any problems as soon as possible.

One of the most common problems that requires treatment prior to surgery is high blood pressure (hypertension). If you know that you are suffering from high blood pressure, it may be helpful to have your blood pressure checked regularly by your GP in the period before your operation.