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PATIENT EXPERIENCE

Hip Replacement Journey

Benefits of Dr. de Jongh’s Technique

Information regarding hip replacement from a patient’s vantage point

BENEFITS OF DR DE JONGH’S TECHNIQUE

The hip replacement technique that Dr de Jongh uses is according to the latest technology (information on the web page). It has several benefits over other techniques:

  • The incision is made between the muscles, so that the muscles are not damaged. This accelerates the recovery.
  • Blood loss is minimal, preventing the possibility of a blood transfusion.
  • The orientation of the incision is such that it excludes some of the previous inconveniences. It is for example not necessary to keep the hip joint at a 70 degree angle after the operation; the joint can be 90 degrees or a bit more, which contrasts with other techniques. This means that you don’t have to sit on very high chairs, and the toilet seat does not have to be raised (although this can be convenient to help with getting up).
  • You will be able to sit at your computer to work after a week when your brain can function clearly again.

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Precautions

It is necessary to have help after the operation because the success of total recovery depends on not overexerting the new hip. For the first week you will have to rest and wait for the swelling to subside. Compare the hip replacement with a broken leg which takes 6 weeks to heal.

If there is not adequate homecare available, it would be profitable to stay in a rehabilitation facility for some time. It will not be possible for you to do the normal support work for your family – you need to be cared for. You will not for example be able to put on your socks and you will need help with preparing meals, dishwashing, clearing up the shower, washing clothes, and picking up stuff from the floor.

Preparation for the operation

It would be advisable to be fit before the operation as far as the pain in the hip allows. Remember: “The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war”. The muscles in your legs, arms and stomach have to be as strong as possible to help you get up and about after the operation. Lose weight if necessary.

Tips for home recovery after the operation

  • Make or buy prepared meals that you can put in your freezer.
  • Buy a walker and crutches from the orthopedic physiotherapists; you need both
  • You need gadgets to help you to put on your clothes and to pick up things from the floor, since you will not be able to bend over to do that. A braai tong in every room goes a long way. A long brush will help you to wash your back and feet in the shower and a very useful tool is a long shoe horn.
  • Install handrails in the shower to hold on to.
  • Get slip-on shoes or slippers
  • Someone needs to help you to prepare your bedroom; for example, there must be a battery operated lamp next to your bed that you can use in the night when you have to go to the toilet even if there is load-shedding. The bed must not be too high or too low to enable easy access for sitting and getting up. You need to sit and get up on the side of the operated leg. You have to get up a lot at night while the kidneys excrete the remaining anaesthetic and other medications, and you tend to move slowly with the walker. Take your blood thinning medication and beverages in the afternoon to reduce the number of times you need to get up at night.
  • It is quite a challenge to get onto the bed again. This is why the bed must not be too high. You have to sit on the bed and then swing your legs up onto the mattress, first the healthy leg and then the operated leg. You can sit on a plastic bag to help with the turning movement and hold the foot of the operated leg with a towel or a belt to keep the leg in a straight position during the upswing. It would be advisable to practice this before the operation to see whether you can do it before you decide whether to recover at home.

The Preparatory hospital visit

The operation will be done at Panorama Mediclinic. You have to be admitted at 6 am on the day of the operation unless the Practice of Dr de Jongh gives you a later time. You will receive instructions for when you may eat or drink the last time prior to the operation.

Depending on the time of the operation you will either have to shower with the antibacterial soap at home before going to the hospital or you will be able to shower in the ward after being admitted. The soap has to be used in the morning and evening on the day before the operation, as well as on the morning of the day of the operation. If you shower in the ward you will be able to lend a hair dryer in the ward. Do not shave before the operation, it will cause abrasions in your skin. It is advisable to shower with rubber flip flops to prevent fungal infections.

Before the operation you will be visited by the anesthetist and a physician.

Remember to remove any jewelry before the operation. You will have a secure cupboard to store your valuables.

Depending on your state of health you will be transported after the operation to the ICU or to the normal ward. After the operation you will have a catheter fitted as well as a drip and a drain to remove the remaining fluids from the wound.

If you are in the normal ward, the catheter, drip and drain will be removed the next day and you will be able to get out of bed with the help of a sister to walk to the toilet with a walker.

You will be able to wash, brush your teeth and shower in the ward’s bathroom. The plaster on the wound is waterproof.

You will be visited by one of the orthopedic physiotherapists. They will teach you to walk with the walker and show you how to use crutches. They will teach you to get in and out of bed, to climb stairs, and how to get in and out of a car. They will give you an information sheet. You will be instructed on how to do mild exercises on your bed to improve blood circulation and strengthen the muscles.

Depending on your health status and your medical aid you will be able to sleep in the hospital for 3 or 4 nights.

You will be visited regularly by the physician to assess your recovery and your medication.

Dr de Jongh will assess you before you are discharged.

Friends and family are allowed to visit you at any time between 9 am and 8 pm; however, the best times are 3 pm and 7 pm, to prevent arriving when the physiotherapist or the doctor are doing their rounds.

The hospital visit

The operation will be done at Panorama Mediclinic.

You have to be admitted at 6 am on the day of the operation. You will receive instructions for when you may eat or drink the last time prior to the operation.

Depending on the time of the operation you will either have to shower with the antibacterial soap at home before going to the hospital or you will be able to shower in the ward after being admitted. The soap has to be used in the morning and evening on the day before the operation, as well as on the morning of the day of the operation. If you shower in the ward you will be able to lend a hair dryer in the ward. Do not shave before the operation, it will cause abrasions in your skin.

 

Before the operation you will be visited by the anesthetist and a physician.

 

Remember to remove any jewelry before the operation. You will have a secure cupboard to store your valuables.

 

Depending on your state of health you will be transported after the operation to the ICU or to the normal ward. After the operation you will have a catheter fitted as well as a drip and a drain to remove the remaining fluids from the wound.

 

If you are in the normal ward, the catheter, drip and drain will be removed the next day and you will be able to get out of bed with the help of a sister to walk to the toilet with a walker.

 

You will be able to wash, brush your teeth and shower in the ward’s bathroom. The plaster on the wound is waterproof. It is advisable to shower with rubber flip flops to prevent fungal infections.

 

You will be visited by one of the orthopedic physiotherapists. They will teach you to walk with the walker and show you how to use crutches. They will teach you to get in and out of bed, to climb stairs, and how to get in and out of a car. They will give you an information sheet. You will be instructed on how to do mild exercises on your bed to improve blood circulation and strengthen the muscles.

 

Depending on your health status and your medical aid you will be able to sleep in the hospital for 3 or 4 nights.

 

You will be visited regularly by the physician to assess your recovery and your medication.

 

Dr de Jongh will assess you before you are discharged.

 

Friends and family are allowed to visit you at any time between 9 am and 8 pm.

What to take to the hospital with you

  • All your regular medication in the original packaging. It will be given to you every day together with the hospital medication by the nursing personnel
  • Pajamas, but no long dressing gown that you may trip over
  • Your own pillow if preferred
  • A bathroom bag with the necessary
  • A cell phone charger with the correct adapter

What you may not do after the operation

  • Do not turn your body in the opposite direction as your leg – keep the orientation of your leg straight.
  • Do not bend your hip much more than 90 degrees, for example do not bend over to pick up things that have fallen. The instruction sheet of the physiotherapist will tell you how to pick up something in an emergency.
  • Do not sleep on your stomach. You may sleep on the healthy hip with a pillow between your legs.
  • Do not raise your leg to the back (contrary to other operation techniques).
  • Do not cross your legs.
  • Do not drive before 6 weeks.

Medication after the operation

One of the risks for orthopedic surgery is blood clots in your legs. You will be issued with orthopedic socks and blood thinning medication.

You will receive a prescription for the necessary medication. Pain medication will help with possible pain. It is however possible that you will experience minimum pain after the operation, especially in comparison with the pain you felt before the operation. If you do feel any pain, please contact the consulting room personnel. It is good to be vigilant toward any sensitivity in the hip, so that you will receive a warning if you make a wrong movement.

You will receive custom made ice packs to place on your hip while it recovers.

For the first week after the operation you will experience light-headedness and low energy, but it improves as the medication and swelling are reduced.

Follow-up after the operation

  • After 2 weeks the plaster is removed from the wound by a doctor.
  • After 2 weeks and 6 weeks you must make an appointment with the physiotherapists for assessment and further exercises.
  • Walk with a walker or two crutches for 3 weeks and with one crutch for another 3 weeks.
  • You will receive a date for an appointment for a final assessment after 6 weeks at Dr de Jongh’s consulting rooms.

Dr. Heine R de Jongh

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Dr. HR de Jongh Inc. acknowledges that it cannot contract out of the provisions of the POPI Act and, to this end, should the provisions of the POPI Act apply in respect of any of the services rendered in terms of this advertisement / recruitment / web-site etc., the provisions of the POPI Act will prevail over any provisions contained in the aforementioned that may be contrary to such provisions, provided that Dr. HR de Jongh Inc. expressly acknowledges that this clause will only apply in relation to aspects of the service/s to which the POPI Act will apply in law.

The Parties cannot sue each other or the Information Officer for any loss, damage or injury which they suffer unless: the Party being sued was grossly negligent; and the Party being sued has breached the provisions of the POPI Act.

Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and as painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures

Practice Number: 0713139

Practice Address

Room G17 Panorama Medi Clinic, Rothschild Boulevard, Parow, South Africa, 7500

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