Orthopaedics

Some of the advanced orthopaedic procedures performed at West Chester Hospital include:exterior-detail-2

Joint Replacement Surgery

Before Your Surgery

To help you prepare for your procedure, we offer free joint replacement classes. This is not a class to discuss your specific surgery but will get you ready for your stay with us and your post-operative recovery period. Several members of your joint replacement team will speak to you at this class. This is an excellent time to get any questions answered you may have regarding your hospital stay. This class is not only for you but also for your caregiver. It is nice to have a second set of eyes and ears to make sure you don’t miss something.

After Your Surgery

Once you are awake, your vital signs are stable, and your pain is under control, you will be moved to your private hospital room on the orthopaedic unit. The nurse and patient care assistant will greet you when you arrive at your room to ask you several questions and check your vital signs and pain level.

Your family and friends are welcome in your room at this time. Staff members will be glad to help you with all of your needs until your physical therapist determine that it is safe for you to get up and down on your own.

You will be given an incentive spirometer to use several times a day. This will help loosen up some of the congestion in your lungs to prevent pneumonia.

The average stay is about 1-3 days. If you are not ready to go home after three days, you will go to a skilled nursing facility to continue rehabilitation until you are ready to go home. If you are going home, someone should be available to be with you 24 hours a day for the first week for your safety.

Your caregivers during your procedure may include:

Orthopaedic surgeon

This is the physician who will be doing your surgery and will help you make the decisions about your surgery. This physician is the expert, so make sure you address all your surgical questions to him or her.

Operating room team

This team is comprised of many people who will make sure things go smoothly while you are in the operating room, and will ensure your surgeon has everything he or she needs to perform your surgery. You will not be left alone at any time during the surgery; a nurse is assigned to stay with you at all times. Additionally, the anesthesiologist will always be with you to ensure your safety.

Orthopaedic Program Coordinator

This is the person who will coordinate your hospital stay. He or she will coordinate the joint replacement class and make sure all your questions are answered. You can contact your program coordinator at any time with questions or concerns.

Pharmacist

The pharmacist will explain a few medications used in the knee and hip replacement process during the pre-operative class, and will answer any medication questions you may have. Often hip and knee surgery patients are discharged from the hospital on a blood thinner to prevent blood clots. The pharmacist will teach you and your caregiver about the blood thinner you are prescribed and how take or administer them properly.

Physical Therapist

The physical therapist will see you initially within the first 24 hours after your surgery and twice a day for exercises that will increase your range of motion, strength and mobility after surgery. He or she will instruct you on any precautions you must follow to protect your new joint. These precautions are usually temporary; your doctor will let you know when you can resume normal activity. The therapist will work with social services to ensure you have any equipment you might need to go home safely.

Occupational Therapist

The occupational therapist will see you initially within 24 hours after your surgery and once daily. The therapist will make sure you are able to do your activities of daily living (ADLs) such as putting on your clothes, getting to the bathroom, washing, grooming, and other such activities while maintaining your post-surgical precautions. He or she may help you get specialty equipment to help you accomplish these tasks. Items such as reachers, sock aides, and long handled shoe horns and sponges are available at the hospital for you to practice with and take home if needed.

Contact us at 513-298-8000 for more information about our services, classes and helpful reading materials about joint replacement.

You can also click the links below to learn more about what to expect during your surgery experience. Please feel free to download or print these files.