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Patient Evaluation & Surgery Preparation

What to expect – Preparing for orthopaedic surgery

While every orthopaedic evaluation is different, there are many commonly used tests that an orthopaedic surgeon may consider in evaluating a patient’s condition.

In general, the orthopaedic evaluation usually consists of:

  • A thorough medical history

    Your medical history is taken to assist the orthopaedic surgeon in evaluating your overall health and the possible causes of your joint pain. In addition, it will help your orthopaedic surgeon determine to what degree your joint pain is interfering with your ability to perform everyday activities.

  • A physical examination

    What the physician sees during the physical examination — which includes examination of standing posture, gait analysis (watching how you walk), sitting down, and lying down — helps to confirm (or to rule out) possible diagnoses. The physical exam will also enable the orthopaedic surgeon to evaluate other important aspects of your hips and knees, including: size and length, strength, range of motion, swelling, reflexes, and skin condition. If you are experiencing pain in your hip joint, your back may be examined because hip pain may actually be the result of problems in the lower spine.

  • X-rays

    The X-rays help show how much joint damage or deformity exists. An abnormal X-ray may reveal: narrowing of the joint space, cysts in the bone, spurs on the edge of the bone, areas of bony thickening (sclerosis), deformity, or incorrect alignment.

  • Additional tests, as needed

    Occasionally, additional tests may be needed to confirm the diagnosis. Laboratory testing of your blood, urine, or joint fluid can be helpful in identifying specific types of arthritis and in ruling out certain diseases. Specialized X-rays of the back can help confirm that hip pain isn’t being caused by a back problem. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or a bone scan may be needed to determine the condition of the bone and soft tissues of the affected joint.

Ready to see an orthopaedic specialist about joint replacement to relieve your pain? Before you start preparing for orthopaedic surgery, consider how you would answer certain questions your doctor may ask. Your specialist will also ask questions about your medical and health history. Of course, you should be as thorough as possible when answering.

QUESTIONS YOUR DOCTOR MAY ASK

  • Where is your pain located? Does more than one joint hurt?
  • When did the pain first begin? What caused it (if known)?
  • Rank your pain on a scale of 1 to 5
  • Has the pain gotten worse recently? If so, is it more severe, does it occur more often, or both?
  • Does your pain get worse, or occur more often, when you do weight-bearing activities, or at rest, or at night?
  • Are you taking any medication for the pain? (make a list of both prescription and non-prescription medications.)
  • Are you taking any dietary supplements? (make a list of vitamins or other pills for arthritis, such as chondroitin or glucosamine.)
  • How far can you walk without support? With support?
  • Can you climb stairs comfortably without help? Do you need to go very slowly and carefully?
  • How physically active are you?
  • What tests have previously been done to evaluate your joint pain?

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR

The questions below provide a way to discuss your joint pain with your doctor and to help your doctor determine whether you’re a joint replacement candidate. Take them with you to your doctor, and be sure to ask any additional questions you may have to address your concerns:

  • Are there any pain relief options for me that could work as well as joint replacement?
  • If I have joint replacement, how much will it relieve my pain?
  • How is the procedure done?
  • What do you do to manage the pain after the surgery?
  • What are the risks or complications of joint replacement?
  • How long will I be in the hospital, and how soon after having the procedure can I get back to normal daily activities?
  • Is joint replacement covered by my insurance?
  • After the procedure, will I see you or my regular doctor for follow-up care?
  • If I decide to have joint replacement, which company’s product do you think will be best for me? Why?
  • If I have joint replacement, will you perform my surgery? How many of these procedures have you performed?
  • What kind of activities will I be able to participate in after joint replacement?

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