Care after Hip Arthroscopy
At your preoperative visit, a hip arthroscopy
handout will be given to you to explain your
surgery.
What kind of activity can I do after
surgery?
You will go home the same day that you
have surgery. You should try to rest as
much as you can and elevate your legs. This
will help reduce any pain and swelling that
you are having in your hip. You may notice
some swelling in your hip for a few days
after surgery. The swelling may go down
your leg past your knee. If the swelling
worsens, decrease your activities slightly.
There may be some bruising in your pelvic
area. You may also have some mild to
moderate cramping in the thigh muscles for
the first few days. This is normal, and will
go away. You may feel numb in your thigh
or groin. This is usually from the traction,
and should also go away in a few days to a
few weeks.
ξ You will use crutches after surgery.
Even if you are allowed to step and
place weight on your leg, you should
still use the crutches until you see
your physical therapist for the first
time; they can determine if your
balance has normalized enough to
come off of them. Some procedures
may require the use of crutches for
up to six weeks.
ξ Your activity will be as you can
tolerate.
ξ Physical Therapy will start 5-7 days
after surgery. You will be told how
to do hip and leg exercises. It is
important to do these exercises at
home.
ξ You should not drive until you have
full use of your right leg. Do not
drive until you have been off your
narcotic pain medication for 24
hours.
ξ You can go back to work when you
and your doctor feel you are ready.
Most people can step and place as much
weight as is comfortable right away, and
most will use crutches for 1-2 weeks to
prevent a fall, until your coordination is back
to normal. However, certain procedures
may require patients to be partial or non-
weight bearing on crutches for up to four
weeks. You will receive specific
instructions on how much weight you can
put on your leg when you are sent home
from the hospital.
How do I take care of my incisions after
surgery?
ξ Your incisions will be covered with a
dressing. You can take the dressing
off 48 hours after surgery.
ξ When the dressing is off you can
shower. Cover the incisions with
plastic wrap, Glad® Press-n-Seal or
waterproof band-aids while
showering. This will keep the area
dry. If using plastic wrap, tape the
edges down. This will keep water
from getting under the plastic wrap.
ξ You should not get into a bathtub or
swimming pool for at least 2 weeks
after surgery.
ξ You should not get into a hot tub,
lake, or pond until at least 4 weeks
after surgery.
ξ After showering, cover the incisions
with clean band-aids or dressings.
Do not use any creams or ointments
on the incisions.
ξ You can apply ice to your incisions
after surgery. Place a towel over
your skin, and apply the ice over top.
You should ice for no more than 20
minutes at a time, with an hour break
in between. Try to ice regularly for
at least the first 72 hours, icing is
primarily helpful for pain control.
ξ You will be seen for a follow-up
visit about two weeks from surgery.
Your stitches will be removed at
that visit.
What kind of medicine will I take after
surgery?
ξ A prescription for narcotic pain
medicine may be given to you before
surgery. If so, please get this filled
prior to surgery, but do not use it
until after surgery.
ξ The goal of this medicine is to
reduce your pain to a tolerable
level, not to make you completely
pain-free.
ξ You may also be given an anti-
inflammatory medicine, such as
Celebrex or Meloxican, to help with
the pain and swelling. You will take
these for six weeks after surgery, if
well tolerated.
ξ Do not drive until you have been off
of the narcotic pain medicine for at
least 24 hours.
What are warning signs and when should
I call the doctor?
Call your doctor or clinic if:
ξ Your incision becomes red, feels
warm or has foul smelling drainage.
ξ You have a temperature over
100.5 θF for 2 readings taken 4 hours
apart.
ξ You have a lot of bleeding that is not
controlled by direct pressure.
ξ Your foot or leg becomes pale, blue
or cool to touch.
ξ You have pain and/or swelling
behind the knee or in the calf area.
When will I have my follow-up clinic
visit?
Your doctor will see you at The American
Center Orthopedic Clinic 10-14 days after
surgery.
The American Center Sports Medicine
Clinic
Monday-Friday 8 am-5pm
608-263-8850
After hours call the clinic number and your
call will be forward to the paging operator.
Ask for the orthopedic resident on call.
Leave your name and phone number. The
doctor will call you.
24 Hour Toll Free Number:
1-800-323-8942
Your health care team may have given you this information as part of your care. If so, please use it and call if you
have any questions. If this information was not given to you as part of your care, please check with your doctor. This
is not medical advice. This is not to be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Because each
person’s health needs are different, you should talk with your doctor or others on your health care team when using
this information. If you have an emergency, please call 911. Copyright © 9/2017 University of Wisconsin Hospitals
and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#6031.