Hip Replacement Surgery Singapore

Hip Replacement Surgery is one of the most successful surgeries to date, and markedly improves your pain and mobility if you are suffering from severe hip arthritis. Ability to walk better and pain-free would not only improve your quality of life, but have direct effects on your physical health by improving your bone density, muscle mass and cardiovascular health. Mental health is often improved as well with the new-found freedom from hip pain.

You will be given full anaesthesia (either general or spinal). An incision will be made over the damaged hip joint, a muscle sparing approach will be utilised to deliver the damaged hip joint. Once the damaged cartilage is removed to healthy bone, a socket implant with a special bone-like coating will be inserted. A bio-insert metal stem will be inserted into the femur.

Next the desired bearing combination will be implanted. Stability of the hip replacement will be checked and the capsular layered repaired before watertight skin closure is performed. Thereafter waterproof dressing is applied. Post op Xrays will be done. Most of the time, you should be able to start walking with either a walking frame or quad-stick immediately after the surgery.

After the surgery, you will be asked to come back to clinic to have your dressings changed every 4-5 days, till dressings are allowed to come off at two weeks post-surgery. Twice weekly physiotherapy is recommended for a start and this can help reactivate the muscles and reduce
the swelling.

Certain hip positions and getting up from the floor should be avoided for the first 4 to 6 weeks. Driving is generally allowed after 6 weeks. Thereafter hip restrictions will be lifted.

Full recovery from surgery generally takes between 3 to 6 months after surgery.

• Preoperative strengthening - keeping active prior to hip replacement will keep muscles strong for fast recovery
• Optimise your health before surgery - stop smoking,  losing weight before operation, and good diabetic control (if you are diabetic)
• Manage pain. Pain must be well managed, so our patients will participate in prescribed exercises. Let us and our chosen anaesthetists help you get that pain under control.  
• Participate in prescribed physical therapy and exercise.
• Eat well and plenty of rest. Surgery is stressful to our body. Pushing ourself too hard can sometimes be counterproductive, hence we need to listen to our body. Rest and recovery will help us in the  road to recovery.

• Constant Hip Pain.
• Swelling  And Stiffness In The Hip Joint. 
• Difficult or lack of mobility with everyday tasks such as lifting your leg.
• Conservative Treatment  are no longer helpful
• Hip pain is reducing your quality of life, and limiting the activities you enjoy.
• Side Effects from hip pain medications

Typically, some surgical pain is expected. However our hip replacement surgeons use modern techniques to keep the procedure smooth and effective. Afterwards, the patient may feel some discomfort in the hip region and the thigh and knee. However we will work with our anaesthetists to manage your pain well. This surgical pain will also be different from the hip pain you used to experience, that limited your lifestyle. Most importantly, this surgical pain will abate in the next weeks, while you embark on the road to recovery. Keeping positive, participating in physiotherapy, and setting goals with your surgeon will help to keep you on track during your recovery

In most cases the hip replacement surgery will take around 2-3 hours including anaesthesia preparation, and reversal. Hospital stay depends on patients age, fitness and approach used for hip replacement and should average 2-4 days. The day after the hip replacement, patients are usually started on weight bearing physiotherapy, they may need walking aids to help.  The walking aids can gradually be removed in around 2 weeks, and patients will walk better with each passing week. Participating in regular physiotherapy immediately after hip replacement is critical in good outcomes. As the muscles get stronger,  patients walk better, feel better, and have less pain. It may take around 6 weeks before patients start to feel strong enough to take short walks out. Older patients or patients who are more frail may require up to 3 months to achieve the same goals. It is important to discuss your expectations, concerns, and ideas with your surgeon, so they can address them early. Remember, your surgeons want you to recover to your best potential as well, and will make every effort to optimise your recovery in any way possible.

According to published data on MOH website, a total hip replacement using SB839H under Table 6A will cost around $35000 - $45000. The surgeon fee for the procedure will range from $8550 -$12850.  Please refer to this MOH Website. Please note the published data reflect the median of actual transacted fees from 1 July 2019 to 31 December 2020. There may be some fee adjustments since then.  It would be best to discuss with us so we can give you a clearer picture, and we can also discuss the role and extent of  different payers available, such as Hospitalisation Shield plans, corporate group and surgical plans and Medisave