What Happens on the Ward After Your Hip or Knee Surgery
The time immediately after surgery, while still in hospital, can feel unfamiliar if you don't know what to expect. Here's a straightforward walkthrough of what typically happens on the ward.
Waking Up and Initial Checks
After surgery, you'll wake up in a recovery area before being moved to the ward once you're stable. Nursing staff will carry out regular observations — blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels, and temperature — to monitor your recovery from the anaesthetic and check for any early signs of complications.
Nursing Care and Observations (OBS)
Throughout your stay, nurses will continue regular observations at set intervals, checking your wound, monitoring pain levels, and ensuring your medication is given on schedule. These checks become less frequent as you stabilise, but they're a continuous thread throughout your time on the ward.
Pain Management and Pharmacy
The pharmacy team, working with nursing staff, manages your pain relief and any other medication, including blood-thinning treatment to reduce clot risk. Don't hesitate to tell staff if pain isn't adequately controlled — medication can usually be adjusted, and staying comfortable supports better early mobilisation.
Physiotherapy Begins Early
Physiotherapists typically see patients within hours of surgery, not days. Early sessions focus on getting you safely standing and taking your first steps, using a frame or crutches, along with simple exercises to protect movement and circulation. This early mobilisation is one of the most important factors in a smooth recovery.
X-Rays and Checks
A post-operative X-ray is taken to confirm the position of the new joint before you're discharged. This is a routine, standard part of care rather than a sign of concern, and gives the surgical team a clear picture that everything is as expected.
Wound Care
Nursing staff will check and, if necessary, change your dressing during your stay, monitoring for any early signs of infection such as increasing redness, warmth, or discharge. You'll also be shown how to care for the wound yourself once home.
Planning for Discharge
Before you leave, the team will confirm you can move safely, manage stairs if needed, and understand your medication, wound care, and exercise plan. Discharge planning also covers what support you'll need at home and when your follow-up appointment will be.
A Coordinated Team Effort
What can feel like a lot of separate people and checks is, in practice, a coordinated team — surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists, and pharmacy — all working from the same plan to get you moving safely and home as soon as it's appropriate for you.
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