A Practical Guide to Hip Surgery

By M. E. Hecht, MD

For your patients contemplating hip replacement surgery, you won’t find a more detailed or complete primer to outline this increasingly used procedure and the grueling rehab that follows. Hecht provides hints and advice to take patients from making the decision to undergo the procedure to post-op do’s and don’ts. And who could be more familiar with the ins and outs, concerns and considerations, and plethora of questions than Hecht, an orthopedic surgeon who has not only performed countless hip surgeries but has herself undergone a double hip replacement.

Hecht outlines the importance of careful selection of the surgical team, presents key questions patients need to ask, details the surgical procedure, and explains the post-op rehabilitation regimen. Each chapter ends with a space for notes or questions patients may want to prepare for the surgical team.

The down-to-earth tone gives hip replacement patients the unique perspectives from both the patient and the surgeon. It notes that patients can expect that specific procedures will be accompanied by pain and makes clear the need for realistic patient expectations. Likewise, it conveys the importance of communication with medical personnel—from accurate lists of all medications to when it’s advisable to resume driving following surgery.

Also included is a timeline planning guide to map out everything from pre-op blood donation scheduling to packing clothes appropriate for going home from the hospital after the surgery. This is a must-read for patients considering hip surgery.