📍 Manassas, Fair Oaks, & Gainesville, VA 📞 703-393-1667
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Dr. Zachary Weidner, M.D.
HIP & KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGEON
Home › Patient Resources › Joint Replacement FAQs
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Answers to Your Hip & Knee Replacement Questions
Honest, detailed answers based on Dr. Weidner's own surgical experience — covering anesthesia, recovery, hospital stays, driving, and what to expect after surgery.
Quick Facts
FROM DR. WEIDNER'S OWN PRACTICE
⏱️ 60-75 minute average surgical time
🏥 ~70% home on day of surgery
🦵 No hip precautions (anterior approach)
👞 No staples / stitches to remove
BROWSE BY TOPIC
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📋 Before Surgery
🧞 During Surgery
🏥 Early Recovery
🚗 Return to Daily Life
📅 Long-term Outcomes
60-75 minutes
SURGICAL TIME
70-75%
HOME ON DAY OF SURGERY
85-90%
IMPLANTS LASTING 20+ YRS
2-3 weeks
UNTIL DRIVING
📋Before Surgery
What to expect as you prepare for your procedure
What type of anesthesia will I have?
Almost all patients have spinal/epidural anesthesia, which makes their legs numb for surgery but doesn't require general anesthesia with a breathing tube. You will get "twilight" sedation so that you are not aware of what is happening during the procedure.
How long does hip or knee replacement surgery take?
The surgical time to perform a hip or knee replacement usually takes about 60-75 minutes, though it may vary depending on patient size and severity of arthritis. The full procedure time including anesthesia, surgery, and recovery room time is usually about 3 to 4 hours.
📋During Surgery & the Procedure
What actually happens on surgery day
Will I need hip precautions after anterior total hip replacement?
Because of the way an anterior total hip replacement is performed and the lower dislocation rate associated with this surgery, no hip precautions are required postoperatively. This differs from traditional posterior hip replacement, which has a higher dislocation rate and usually requires patients not cross their legs, not sit in low chairs, and use a pillow between their legs while in bed.
Is a hip or knee replacement painful?
Because anterior hip replacement is minimally invasive, it is usually not very painful, and many patients report their arthritis pain is gone almost immediately after surgery. Partial knee replacement is similarly not too painful for most patients. Many (but not all) total hip and partial knee replacement patients can recovery using No Narcotics. Total knee replacement can be more painful and will often require pain medicines at least for a little bit after surgery.
When do the staples or stitches get removed, and what does the scar look like?
Dr. Weidner uses absorbable sutures under the skin, so no staple or suture removal is required, along with a skin glue or tape on top of the incision for extra strength. A special waterproof, antimicrobial bandage can be left on the incision for two weeks, allowing patients to shower as soon as they get home.
📋Hospital Stay & Early Recovery
What happens in the days right after surgery
How long will I be in the hospital after hip or knee replacement?
Most patients now go home the same day as surgery with many surgeries safely being done at ambulatory surgery centers rather than hospitals. Almost all partial knee replacement patients go home the same day. Among Dr. Weidner's total hip & total knee replacement patients, 70-75% go home on the day of surgery, 15% go home after one night in the hospital, and about 10% stay two or three nights in the hospital. This depends on the patient's age, other medical issues, and activity levels before surgery.
Will I go home or to rehab after hip or knee replacement surgery?
The vast majority of patients go home after both hip and knee replacement surgery, it's actually challenging to get insurance to pay for patients going to rehab after uncomplicated hip or knee replacement surgery. Occasionally, older patients or those with multiple medical problems may require a short stay in a rehab facility. Most patients receive physical therapy in the hospital and then begin outpatient physical therapy within a few days after surgery.
Is it normal to have numbness of the hip and knee after joint replacement?
Yes. Many knee replacement patients end up with numbness in a small area below and to the outside of the kneecap, and some hip replacement patients have numbness on the outside of the thigh near the anterior incision. Skin nerves take about one year after surgery to heal to their full extent; this numbness does not affect the function of the hip or knee.
🚗Returning to Daily Life
Work, driving, and getting back to normal
How long do I have to be off work after hip or knee replacement?
It depends on your recovery and what type of work you do. You can start working from home within days of surgery. A desk job can usually be returned to within 2–4 weeks after surgery. More rigorous manual-type labor may require 2–3 months for a return to full activity.
When can I drive after hip or knee replacement?
If your surgery was on the right leg, you should not drive for about 2-3 weeks after surgery, as reaction time from the gas to the brake pedal is slower after joint replacement surgery. For surgery on your left leg, you can drive after 10-14 days if you feel comfortable and are finished taking narcotic pain medicine.
Can I kneel after knee replacement?
Yes. After the incision is fully healed, typically 4 to 6 weeks, patients can kneel on the knee that had replacement surgery. It may take time to get used to due to numbness and sensitivity in the front of the knee, but kneeling does not damage the underlying knee replacement.
📅Long-Term Outcomes
How long your new joint will last
How long do hip or knee replacements last?
Historically, about 1% of joint replacements fail per year, meaning roughly 80% of patients are still doing well with their original implant 20 years after surgery (70% after 30 yrs). Modern implants are expected to improve on these results, so after 20 years more than 80% of patients still have their original implant. For most patients in their 50s, 60s, or 70s, a hip or knee replacement will last for the rest of their life.