What Is A Day Case Joint Replacement? 

We speak with Mr Amgad Nakhla, consultant orthopaedic surgeon, at Clementine Churchill Hospital, about having a day case joint replacement, meaning you leave hospital on the same day as your surgery and often recover faster than with traditional surgery.
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Chapters:
01:47: What is a day case procedure?
02:14: What happens during joint replacement surgery?
03:02: How is a day case procedure performed differently from standard?
04:42: Is the recovery period faster after a day case procedure?
06:27: Why is it important to have physiotherapy after surgery?
Why might you need a hip or a knee replacement?
Firstly, what brings you to having these surgeries in the first place? People have their joints replaced for many reasons, but the most common are:
Osteoarthritis, which is when the smooth cartilage across the surface of your joint wears down over time. You'll sometimes hear it referred to as wear and tear arthritis, and it's more common the older we get. The wear and tear can make your joint very painful and stiff and can really reduce your mobility.
This is the most common type of arthritis both in the UK and worldwide and it is the most common reason why people have joint replacement surgery.
Rheumatoid arthritis, which currently affects more than 400,000 people in the UK. It is an inflammatory joint condition caused by an autoimmune process, which happens when your body attacks its healthy cells by mistake. This often causes pain, swelling, and inflammation in your joints. Joints affected by RA are commonly surrounded by inflamed tissue, which often results in chronic pain.
A fracture, which happens when a crack occurs across your bone. Fractures are usually caused by a traumatic injury such as an injury during contact sports, but they can sometimes happen because of a condition that weakens your bone, for example osteoporosis.
You will be recommended surgery if your joint pain hasn’t improved with other treatment options, like steroid injection therapy or physiotherapy.
What is a day-case procedure?
The time people spend in hospital after a hip or knee replacement has significantly reduced over the years, and now it is possible to go home on the same day that you have the surgery. There are many advantages to this, including being back in the comfort of your own environment sooner and a faster recovery period.
How is a day-case procedure performed differently?
We will operate using a spinal anaesthetic, which wears off more quickly than a general anaesthetic. This means you will be numb from the waist down, but you will still be awake during the procedure. With spinal anaesthetic, you can function and move more quickly after surgery, allowing you to get out of bed and walk sooner. With general anaesthetic, which we tend to use if you are going to stay overnight in hospital, you are not awake during the procedure.
We also administer other medication during surgery to reduce blood loss, control your pain levels and reduce any nausea or vomiting after the procedure.
When the surgery is over you will be monitored closely by your healthcare team before being told it is safe to travel home. You will meet with an enhanced recovery physiotherapist who will share your personalised exercise programme, which you can follow at home to regain strength and mobility. They will perform some exercises with you there and then to get you moving as quickly as possible.
You can usually return home after a few hours. We will provide you with plenty of information about how to recover safely at home, including advice about caring for your wounds, and managing your pain levels safely, so you’ll feel informed and ready for the next steps.
You will need someone to collect you from surgery while the anaesthesia wears off. We can arrange a taxi to collect you from hospital, if needed.
Consultant details:
Mr Amgad Nakhla is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Clementine Churchill Hospital.
Learn more about his expertise: www.circleheal...
To see how Clementine Churchill Hospital can help you, visit: www.circleheal...
If you have any of the concerns outlined in this video, seek professional medical help as soon as possible.
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