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Surgical FAQ’s


 

Q: How long is the surgery?

A: Total time in the OR depends on a number of factors, including the time for anesthesia, preparing the room, safety checks, position and the actual operation.  Typically, a standard hip, knee or hip resurfacing lasts approximately 2 to 3 hours.

 

Q: Does Dr. Ihekweazu perform his own surgeries?

A: Yes, Dr. Ihekweazu performs all of his surgeries and personally rounds on all of his patients.

 

Q: Are there different sizes of implants? How is this determined?

A: Yes, there are many different sizes of implants, all of which are available for each surgical procedure. The proper size is determined by measuring your hip and knee bones at the time of surgery.

 

Q: Will I require antibiotics after surgery?

A: Yes, all joint replacement patients receive 24 hours of antibiotics following surgery.  The first dose is given prior to surgery and then additional doses are given after the operation.  Research has shown this to be very effective in preventing infections.

 

Q: How long will I have to stay in the hospital?

A: Your length of stay depends on your overall health status and the complexity of your operation. Research clearly shows that the longer patients stay in the hospital the more likely for complications such as blood clots, infections and cognitive problems may occur.  In general, partial knee patients go home on the day of surgery.  Standard total hip, hip resurfacing and total knee replacement patients go home after spending home one night in the hospital.

 

Q: Where will I recover after my hospital stay?

A: Most patients can safely be discharged directly home following surgery.  We strongly recommend going home after surgery and not to a rehab or skilled care-type facility.  The reason for this is because research tells us that post-surgical complications such as blood clots and readmission to the hospital occur more frequently in patients that do not go home after surgery.  Our goal is prevent these types of complications.  In very rare cases, discharge to a skill care facility may be unavoidable and in these scenarios our case managers and social workers will help facilitate this for you.


Q: What does Dr. Ihekweazu do differently to achieve good results?

A: Dr. Ihekweazu has traveled worldwide to learn the techniques of many experienced surgeons, including during his fellowship year in New York at the Hospital for Special Surgery.  Dr Ihekweazu incorporates what he has learned into his own surgical procedure. He and the other Fondren joint replacement surgeons are also involved in research focused on the analysis of results and thus is continually striving for improving outcomes.

 

Q: How are bone cysts handled at the time of surgery?

A: Bone cysts are cleaned out thoroughly and filled with bone cement, providing for excellent immediate fixation.


Q: If I am signed up for a Hip Resurfacing, is there a possibility that I will wake up with a total hip replacement?

A: Yes, there is always a small possibility that a hip resurfacing will not be feasible because of poor bone quality or structural deficiencies. If this is the case, then a total hip replacement would be better because the stem is place further into the femur, which makes this more stable.

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