Dr Imran Salim Malik performs this operation himself, at Omar Hospital & Cardiac Centre, Johar Town, Lahore. He has more than 20 years of experience in orthopedic surgery.
Not sure if your parent needs a hip replacement? WhatsApp their hip X-ray to +92 300 4890692 and book a consultation.
Fall or suspected broken bone? Go to the nearest emergency department now, or call Rescue 1122, if the person cannot stand or put weight on the leg, a limb looks bent or a bone is showing, a hand or foot is cold, pale or numb, there is heavy bleeding, or they hit their head. An older person who cannot walk after a fall may have a broken hip and needs to go to hospital now. Do not move someone who may have hurt their neck or back.
Once the patient is safe, call +92 300 4890692 for fracture care with Dr Malik. Some broken hips are treated with a partial (half) or total hip replacement. Dr Malik can arrange care in the emergency department: WhatsApp the X-ray, the patient’s medical history and any medical conditions to the same number. If you cannot reach us, go to the nearest emergency department.
When is a hip replacement needed?
For arthritis, doctors suggest a hip replacement when it limits daily life and other treatment no longer helps. A badly broken hip may need a replacement sooner. The worn, painful joint surfaces are replaced with smooth, strong parts, so you can move with less pain.
Is it safe for an older parent?
Before surgery, the anaesthesia doctor and, if needed, a physician or heart doctor check your parent's health. They look for problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or kidney trouble, and manage them first.
No operation is free of risk. Dr Malik will explain the risks and the other options, so the family can decide together.
Already been told you need an operation? A second opinion is your right. Bring your reports and Dr Malik will go through your options with you, including non-surgical ones.
Getting ready for the operation
Dr Malik checks your history and medicines, examines your hip and takes X-rays. Sometimes an MRI or CT scan is needed.
- Get any tooth or skin infection treated first.
- Stop smoking and all tobacco, including naswar and chewing tobacco. It slows bone and wound healing.
- If needed, lose some weight, to lower infection risk.
- Do not stop any blood thinner or heart medicine on your own. Dr Malik and your heart doctor will tell you what to do before surgery.
- Do the exercises you are shown before surgery.
- Arrange a raised toilet seat or commode at home, and a car for the trip home.
On the day: numbing and pain relief
You will have an injection in the back that numbs the lower body (spinal anaesthesia), or be put fully to sleep (general anaesthesia). Numbing medicine is also put around the hip.
You also get a medicine that reduces bleeding (tranexamic acid). The theatre team follows strict steps to prevent infection.
The operation, step by step
1) Reaching the hip
The surgeon reaches the hip from the back or the side. Both ways are well proven. The choice depends on the shape of your hip, any old scars and the surgeon's judgement.
2) Removing the worn ball
The surgeon removes the worn ball at the upper end of the thigh bone. A metal stem is placed inside the thigh bone. It is fixed with bone cement, or fitted tightly so the bone grows onto it (press-fit). A new metal or ceramic ball fits on the stem.
3) Fitting the new socket
The socket in the hip bone is shaped. A metal cup is pressed in, sometimes with screws, and a smooth plastic or ceramic lining clicks into it. Or a plastic cup is fixed with bone cement.
4) Checking fit and leg length
The surgeon first fits temporary trial parts. These check that the hip is stable, moves well and that the legs are a similar length. Then the final parts go in.
5) Closing the wound
The wound is washed out, closed in layers and covered with a dressing. You then go to the recovery room, where nurses check your comfort and blood flow.
Implant choices, and how long they last
Some hips have a higher chance of slipping out of place (dislocation). For them, a special cup that moves in two places (dual mobility cup) may be used.
Today's hip parts are made to resist wear. In large joint registries from several countries, about 9 in 10 total hip replacements are still working after 15 years. Nearly 6 in 10 are still working after 25 years. These are figures from large studies, not one surgeon's own results.
Right after surgery: up and moving
Physiotherapy starts the same day or within 24 hours. Getting up and eating early helps recovery. You practise getting in and out of bed, walking with support, and your home exercises.
How long is the hospital stay? Dr Malik will tell you how long you are likely to stay.
At home, plan for a family member to help, day and night, in the first weeks. He will also tell you how long this help is needed.
Recovery timeline: walking, driving and work
- Day of surgery or next day: most patients stand and walk a few steps with a walker.
- First few weeks: a walker or crutches, then a walking stick when the physiotherapist agrees.
- Driving: usually after about 8 weeks, and only when Dr Malik agrees. You must be able to brake hard safely.
- Work: desk work often starts around 6 weeks; physical work takes longer.
- 3–6 months: the full benefit builds, and it can keep improving for up to a year.
Keep doing your home exercises every day for strength and balance.
Daily life at home: toilet, prayer and sitting
- Do not cross your legs until Dr Malik says it is safe.
- Avoid low seats, squatting and sitting cross-legged on the floor.
- Use a raised toilet seat or a commode instead of a squat toilet.
- Pray seated on a chair at first.
- Ask Dr Malik before driving yourself or taking long car journeys.
The physiotherapist will teach you how to use stairs safely before you go home. Dr Malik will tell you when each of these is safe again.
Risks, and how they are reduced
Every operation has risks. For a hip replacement they include blood clots, infection and dislocation (the ball slipping out of the socket). Others are a difference in leg length, a break in the bone and nerve injury. A few people have ongoing pain or need another operation later. The team lowers these risks through:
- Preventing blood clots: early walking, ankle exercises, leg compression (stockings or pumps) and medicine. Many patients get low-dose aspirin; those at higher risk may need stronger blood thinners. You may be given blood-thinning medicine to take at home for some weeks. Take it exactly as prescribed.
- Preventing infection: antibiotics at the right time, a clean operating theatre and strict sterile steps.
- Preventing dislocation: careful placement of the new parts, repair of the soft tissues, and coaching on safe positions while the hip heals.
- Reducing blood loss: the anti-bleeding medicine (tranexamic acid) and modern anaesthesia.
After you go home: when to get help
Go to the nearest emergency department now or call Rescue 1122 if you have:
- chest pain or sudden breathlessness
- sudden severe hip pain, a leg that looks shorter or turned, or you cannot stand on it. The hip may have come out of its socket (dislocated).
Call or WhatsApp +92 300 4890692 the same day if:
- the wound is red, hot, swollen or leaking, or you have a fever
- you have pain or swelling in the calf (a possible blood clot)
If you cannot reach the clinic, go to the nearest emergency department. Tell them you had a hip replacement with Dr Malik.
Your surgeon: Dr Imran Salim Malik
Dr Malik is a consultant orthopedic and trauma surgeon in Lahore, at Omar Hospital & Cardiac Centre. He performs total and half (bipolar) hip replacement, with a clear physiotherapy plan and follow-up.
Is a hip replacement right for your mother or father? WhatsApp their hip X-ray and age to +92 300 4890692 and book an appointment.
In short
Hip replacement is a well-established operation. For most patients it reduces pain and brings back movement. With good preparation, careful surgery and physiotherapy, most people return to normal daily life. The risks above are uncommon but real, and Dr Malik will go through them with you.
Questions families ask
How much does a hip replacement cost?
The consultation fee depends on the hospital you visit. We tell you the exact fee on WhatsApp before you book, so there are no surprises. A follow-up visit within 5 days of your first consultation is free to go through your reports and scans.
The cost of surgery depends on the operation, the implant, the room and the nights in hospital. It is explained to you before you decide.
From the clinics of Dr Imran Salim Malik, orthopaedic and trauma surgeon. MBBS (Allama Iqbal Medical College) · MS (Trauma & Orthopaedics) · PMDC Reg. 39646-P. Every patient is different: Dr Malik will tell you what applies to you.
