Internal Medicine Evaluation: Once you have decided to undergo total hip replacement surgery, you will first undergo a thorough examination by an internist to determine if your general health will affect your surgery and recovery. Ancillary Tests: Blood tests, heart tests, chest x-rays, and kidney tests may all be necessary before your surgery. Skin Preparation: Your skin should be free of any infections or injuries, and you should tell your surgeon if you have any before your surgery. Blood Transfusion: You may be advised to donate blood before your surgery so that you can use your own blood for transfusion during or after your surgery, if necessary. Medications: Tell your surgeon about your medications. Your surgeon will tell you which medications you can continue to take and which you should stop taking before your surgery. Maintaining your weight: If you are overweight, your surgeon will ask you to lose weight before your surgery to reduce the excessive stress on your hip joint due to your weight. Dentist’s evaluation: Although infections are not very common after an artificial joint replacement, they can occur if bacteria get into your bloodstream. It is possible for bacteria to enter your bloodstream if you are being treated by a dentist or if you have a dental condition. Therefore, you should refrain from dental treatment, including routine cleanings, for several weeks before and after the procedure. Urinary evaluation: The urinary evaluation should look for recent or recurrent urinary tract infections. Elderly individuals who are bedridden prior to surgery should receive special attention for urinary examination and treatment. Social Assessment: Although you will be able to walk with a walker soon after surgery, you will need help with some activities in the weeks following surgery, such as cooking, shopping, bathing, and doing laundry. If you live alone, your hospital and community will need to arrange for someone or something special to help you get around at home. The following will help you in your home: reliable handles in your bathroom, on stairs, and wherever you may need them; comfortable, reliable cushions for your seat so that your knees are lower than your hips when you sit down, i.e., your hips should not be flexed more than 90 degrees, and your seat back and both armrests should be stable and reliable; elevated toilets; a stool in the bathroom; longer shower hoses; and a toilet seat in the bathroom. stool; lengthen the shower hose for your convenience; have equipment to help you dress, put on and take off shoes and socks without excessive hip flexion; have a holder to help you get to the items you need in a timely manner without excessive hip flexion; have reliable seat cushions that allow you to sit on a seat, couch, or in an automobile without having your knees lower than your hips, i.e., without having your hips flexed more than 90 degrees. Keep your hip flexed at no more than 90 degrees; Remove anything in your home that could get in the way, such as unsecured carpeting and telephone cords.