Before your operation
Frequently you may be invited to attend a pre-assessment clinic two weeks before, so that your surgeon can determine your suitability for surgery. A detailed assessment will be carried out and full medical history taken. Various physical examinations will be undertaken such as heart monitoring, X-rays and blood and urine samples to ensure that you are sufficiently healthy. You may be asked to bring along details of any medications you are taking – take along a list or the packaging.
You will be given advice on anything you can do to prepare for surgery and will be asked about your home circumstances so that your discharge from hospital may be planned. If you live alone, have a caregiver or feel you need extra support, tell the team so that help can be arranged before you go into hospital.
For patients in the UK, you may also be asked if you are willing for details of your operation to be entered into the National Joint Registry (NJR) database. The NJR collects data on hip and knee replacements in order to monitor the performance of joint implants. There may be leaflets or videos that you can look at to provide you with further information about the operation. Make sure you use this session to discuss ask any further concerns you may have about your surgery, preparations beforehand or recovery afterwards. .
Important: The information and guidance provided here is general in nature and should not be considered as medical advice in any way. You should always seek detailed advice from a qualified medical practitioner.
