GET TING OUT OF HOSPITAL FASTER

The thought of having your hip or knee replaced with a man-made part can be daunting. There’s surgery, and then recovery can be arduous. But with pioneering new techniques, this does not have to be the case. Dr Paul Macnamara, orthopaedic consultant at Medcare Orthopedic and Spine Hospital in Dubai, tells us more about a new rapid recovery programme for hip and knee patients undergoing joint replacement surgery.

What is the rapid recovery programme?

Patients are encouraged to take a proactive approach to their recovery. After the operation, the programme focuses on getting patients starting to move their joint as soon as possible with the support of good pain management. Patients make a quicker than average recovery and are able to return to active life quickly. Why are patients able to recover quicker?

In the past, patients would be given a general anaesthetic and a nerve block. Not only does this make them feel nauseous afterwards, but also they cannot work their leg muscles until the effects wear off, which takes around 36 hours. With the rapid recovery programme, a large dose of anaesthetic solution is injected directly into the tissue surrounding the joint before, during and at the end of surgery. Patients are also given mild sedation and a spinal anaesthesia, which wear off in a couple of hours, enabling them to start moving their legs. The longer patients stay in bed, the more they stiffen up and are at risk of blood clots.

How quickly can a patient expect to leave the hospital?

20 minutes after leaving the operating theatre, while still in the recovery room, patients are encouraged to move their joints. A few hours later, they will be on crutches walking around their bed and doing weight-bearing exercises. We anticipate that they can leave the hospital within 48 to 72 hours, although around five per cent leave within 24 hours. This compares with a stay of up to six days with standard anaesthesia.