It is important to look after your wound site following your surgery.
Scar
You will have a single scar in the region of your hip. The length of scar is dependent in part on obesity and musculature. The position of the scar will depend on the approach that your surgeon uses to enter the hip joint and can be on the front, side or back of your hip. The wound can be closed in a number of ways including with sutures that need to be removed, or dissolvable sutures, with staples or with glue.
Stitches
If you have stitches or staples which need to be removed, you will be given specific instructions of where and when to get them removed before leaving the hospital.
Dressings
After surgery the majority of patients will have a waterproof dressing which can remain in place for an average of 7 - 14 days. This will enable you to shower without getting the wound wet. When showering, place your back to the shower to avoid the shower directly going onto your dressing. If the dressing becomes wet and starts to peel off, you should replace it with a clean dressing taking care not to touch the incision site and the inside of the dressing. Ensure the hospital gives you a spare dressing to take home.
Discomfort
You will experience some soreness, tenderness, tingling, numbness, and itching around the incision especially for the first few days and it is likely that you will require pain relief to ease the discomfort
Swelling
Swelling is very variable, and some patients can find it quite troublesome to for several weeks. Swelling around your hip will increase your pain and make your hip stiff. Try to avoid sitting for long periods of times. Allow yourself enough rest with your feet up on the bed throughout the day. You can use ice packs over the area of your hip to help control swelling as directed by your doctor or therapist. Your leg can get very bruised, and this is nothing to worry about and it will settle in due course.
Signs of infection
You must seek urgent medical advice from your doctor if you start to notice the following:
If the dressing is continuously leaking or saturated due to excessive bleeding after 5 days and after a dressing change
If the surrounding skin has become red and spreading outwards
If there is in an increase in pain or odour
A yellow or green foul-smelling discharge
References
The Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2020, What to expect after the operation. Viewed 23 December 2020