Hip and Knee Joint Replacement

Before surgery

• contact us at 905-494-2120 ext. 57114 to request an electronic copy of our total hip replacement or total knee replacement booklets. These free resources offer helpful information for before and after your surgery
• begin pre-operative exercises three times a day for your hips or knees. Start now and continue these exercises until your surgery.
• rent or purchase the equipment you will need after your surgery.
• arrange for a family member or caregiver to pick you up from the hospital and stay with you for at least three to four days after discharge.
• contact the respite care facility of your choice, if you will need respite care. You should do this as soon as the date of your surgery is confirmed.
• review our preparing for hip or knee surgery checklist.

Prehab education class

Our surgical and rehabilitation programs provide a “prehab” education class to educate both patients and their care partners as they prepare for an upcoming total joint surgery.

The class is a 60-minute group session with time for a question and answer period. It is separate from your pre-anaesthesia clinic appointment and is scheduled one to two months before your surgery.

Classes are led by a physiotherapy assistant who will:

• teach you pre-surgical exercises
• recommend equipment you will need for your surgery
• prepare you to safely manage at home during your recovery and rehabilitation
• address any questions or concerns you may have

This class is virtual and is offered multiple times each week. Once your surgical date is confirmed, the rehabilitation department will call you to arrange a class date and time that is most convenient for you.

Surgery

At Osler, we offer different surgical options based on your needs. We have traditionally offered hip replacements using lateral and posterior approaches, with excellent results. As of 2018, we also began offering the Direct Anterior Approach (DAA) for all hip replacements. The benefits of this approach as compared to lateral and posterior approaches include:

• reduced risk of dislocation
• no mobility restrictions
• limited equipment required
• less pain, as muscles are not split or detached
• shorter hospital stay (some patients can go home the same day as their surgery)
• faster recovery

Your surgeon will work with you to find the method that's best for you.

Post-op outpatient rehabilitation

Our post-operative (post-op) hip and knee programs offer effective, patient-centred care after a total hip or knee joint replacement.

Knee replacement rehabilitation

Patients are given their first appointment within seven to ten days of their surgery.

• If you had your surgery at Osler, you will be given your first appointment before you leave the hospital.
• If you had your surgery at another hospital, you can be referred to this program at Osler.

You will be assessed by a physiotherapist, then booked into a “knee class.” These classes:

• are in a group setting
• are scheduled twice a week for four weeks (eight classes in total)
• are led by a physiotherapist and a physiotherapy assistant
• will teach you an exercise routine to improve your range of motion, strength and function

Exercises are monitored to progress appropriately. After the program, you be able to independently continue a home exercise program.

Hip replacement rehabilitation

In our hip rehabilitation program, you will work one-on-one with a physiotherapist.

• If you had your surgery at Osler, you will be given an appointment for the Outpatient Physiotherapy clinic before you leave the hospital. It will be scheduled for approximately two to three weeks after your surgery.
• If you had your surgery at another hospital but live in Brampton or Etobicoke, we will book your appointment after we receive a referral from the other hospital.

In this program:

• a physiotherapist will assess your range of motion, strength and functional ability
• your home exercise program will be reviewed and adjusted, as appropriate
• you will be educated on pain management techniques and strategies to improve your function

You will have two to four visits over a three-month period to improve your range of motion, strength, and function. Our goal is to help you become independent so you can manage your daily activities.

Transportation

You will need to arrange for transportation to your outpatient physiotherapy appointment. If you are applying for Transhelp (Peel Region) or Wheeltrans (Toronto), applications can take 14 days to be processed. Please note that Section C of the application must be completed by a regulated health care professional.