After Hip Replacement: When to Call Your Surgeon

Make sure to follow all your surgeon’s instructions after your surgery. If you have questions, call your healthcare team.

Man on telephone.

Call 911

Call 911 right away if you have:

  • Chest pain

  • Shortness of breath

When to call your healthcare provider 

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have:

  • Hip pain that gets worse

  • Pain or swelling in your calf or leg not near your incision

  • Pain or redness in your calf

  • Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised

  • Shaking chills

  • Swelling or redness at the incision site that gets worse

  • Fluid or a bad smell from the incision

Preventing infections

An infection can harm the new joint. An example is pneumonia or a bladder infection. Call your surgeon or primary healthcare provider if you think you have any kind of infection.

Call them if you plan to have a medical or dental procedure. You may need to take antibiotics before you have it. This is to help prevent infection.