Frequently Asked Questions
Digital imaging is remarkable for its ability to track changes over time and compare older images with the latest state-of-the-art scans. This capability helps us gain a deeper understanding of your joint structures and identify opportunities for improvement. Typically, we will arrange for up-to-date scans before your consultation with the surgeon. These scans, organized by The Joint Studio, are generally bulk-billed for your convenience.
Medicare rules require a GP referral to access Medicare funds for your treatment. We strongly recommend obtaining a GP referral as it not only ensures you receive a Medicare rebate but also allows us to build a comprehensive care team around you.
Australia benefits from a world-class joint replacement registry, which you automatically join upon receiving your new joint. Surgeons can access their individual results, comparing them to the national average. Riaz has included this information for all the types of joint replacements he performs on this website.
Although The Joint Studio team handles the booking of your surgery, the scheduled time and your arrival time are managed by the hospital. The hospital’s pre-admission staff will call you the day before your surgery to confirm your admission time.
We aim to provide personalized advice based on your specific needs. Generally, most hip replacements require a hospital stay of 2-5 nights, partial knee replacements involve a stay of 3-5 days, and total knee replacements typically require 4-6 nights.
We engage a specialist physician to evaluate your medical issues and provide a thorough overview to your surgeon, GP, and anaesthetist. This process helps streamline your preoperative care and eliminates the need for an in-person consultation with your anaesthetist. Instead, your anaesthetist will contact you by phone 1-3 days before your surgery.
The Recovery Period
Bruising is one of the most common issues after surgery. The routine use of blood thinners after joint replacement surgery exacerbates bleeding and can make for some dramatic bruises. Some people bruise easily and so significantly that the entire leg may appear black and blue. This is usually worst at 5-7 days but be reassured it will settle. Your body will completely resorb the bruises by 6 weeks. We recommend the use of ice, compression and relative rest to control the bruising.
Swelling occurs after all operations, especially joint replacements. It is caused by a combination of bleeding at the surgical site, disruption to blood flow and reduced mobility. It naturally disappears with time, and is helped by elevation, ice, compression and anti-inflammatories.
If you notice increasing redness, heat, pain, swelling, or any signs of pus around your joint, please contact us or your GP immediately. While it’s relatively common to have reactions to the dressing or medical glue, or to develop a suture granuloma (a small stitch abscess), it’s crucial to inform us to ensure proper management and care.
We generally use internal sutures and medical superglue for your skin, so you won’t need to have any sutures or staples removed.
For those in the metro area, we offer a complimentary dressing clinic around the 2-week mark to review your wound, and we can help organize this appointment for you. It’s important to keep the dressing intact as it has anti-microbial properties.
If you are from the country or prefer to see your GP, please make an appointment around 2 weeks after surgery to remove the waterproof dressing. A follow-up appointment with your treating surgeon will be scheduled approximately 6 -7 weeks after your operation.
It’s common and normal to experience some swelling and fluid accumulation around your new joint, which can cause a “click” sound when the metal and plastic surfaces make contact. This sensation usually settles as the swelling decreases and your muscles strengthen around the joint. While it may feel unusual, it’s not dangerous and typically resolves with time.
Continuing your rehabilitation after leaving the hospital is crucial. Follow the home exercise program provided by the hospital physiotherapists to aid your recovery. For Total Knee Replacement, it’s important to restart physiotherapy after your 2-week dressing check. However, hydrotherapy should only begin once you receive medical clearance during your 2-week wound review
The general advice for returning to driving is typically around 4 weeks post-surgery, but this can vary based on your individual recovery progress. As a rule of thumb, you should be able to walk independently before resuming driving.
For any additional queries, please contact The Joint Studio on