Joint Replacement Surgery Your Journey
We are committed to supporting you through your hip or knee replacement surgery journey
We have a highly skilled and dedicated Orthopaedic Care Team, including specialised orthopaedic nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists who work closely with you and your surgeon to understand your needs and goals and prepare you for surgery.
Everyone’s journey will look different. Our team will work through your recovery options with you based on your clinical needs, lifestyle and your private health insurance cover.
We are with you every step of the way.

Booking surgery
Access our online portal to complete your admission to hospital. It is a quick and easy way to begin your admission process.
For any questions about your upcoming admission, contact our team 02 8382 7111.

Preadmission appointment
Our team will carefully assess your needs and create a personalised recovery pathway for you.
You will receive further information about your hospital stay and have any of your questions answered.

Prehab consult
We will introduce you to comfortable exercises and suitable walking aids to make sure you are set up for a speedy recovery.

Joint
school
Join us online via Zoom for a live and interactive education session and learn more about what you can expect during your hip or knee replacement surgery.
Joint School is held twice weekly and can be attended before or after your preadmission appointment.

Your
surgery
Our dedicated team will be ready to support you when you arrive for surgery.
For more information about the day of surgery, click here.

Your
recovery
Our Orthopaedic Care Team support you in your recovery journey beyond surgery.
We want you to return home and back to normal activities as soon as possible.
Your Recovery Options
St Vincent’s Private @Home Recovery
St Vincent’s Private @Home Recovery is designed to make you feel independent and confident recovering at home:
- Daily phone or telehealth calls from our specialised nurse as required
- Phone calls from our physiotherapist outside of home visits as required
- At home physiotherapy and allied health sessions
- 4 x hydrotherapy outpatient sessions
- Access to an exercise library and self-monitoring tools
- Up to 4 x hydrotherapy outpatient sessions
Day Programs
Day Therapy Programs are also available for eligible patients. Your surgeon and physiotherapist will work with you to determine if you are suitable.
Our Day Therapy Program may include visits to our rehabilitation facility for physiotherapy sessions in the gym or hydrotherapy pool, group dietician or occupational therapy sessions.
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy Programs are also available for eligible patients. Your surgeon and physiotherapist will work with you to determine if you are suitable for these programs.
These programs include visits to our rehabilitation facility where you will work with a physiotherapist through a series of progressive exercises in the water.
Inpatient rehab
Admission to inpatient rehabilitation is available for patients who have a clinical need and do not meet the criteria for a safe discharge home.
Your Orthopaedic Care Team will work with you to make sure the safest recovery option is decided.

Frequently Asked Questions
Our Orthopaedic Care Team will work closely with your surgeon to work through your recovery options with you, based on your clinic needs, lifestyle and your private health insurance cover. In preparation for surgery, you will be assessed by our team in a preadmission appointment, shown comfortable exercises in your prehab consultation and prepared for surgery in our Online Joint School.
Everyone’s recovery journey will look different. These days most patients are choosing to return home to complete their recovery. This means that you can choose to have our experienced Orthopaedic Care Team, including specialised orthopaedic nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, visit you in the comfort of your own home. You will also have access to our gym and hydrotherapy pool at our rehabilitation facility.
Day Therapy Programs are also available for suitable patients and involve group gym and hydrotherapy sessions at our rehabilitation facility.
In the unlikely event there is a reason that you are unable to go home as planned, your surgeon and our Orthopaedic Care Team will arrange for you to stay in our Inpatient Rehabilitation facility.
Our recovery pathway options are tailored to you. Through our comprehensive recovery pathway, our team will assess and monitor you every step of the way to ensure we meet your needs and goals for hip or knee replacement surgery.
It is important to carefully follow the instructions from your orthopaedic surgeon and the members of our Orthopaedic Care Team. You will need to notify your surgeon if you develop any of the following warning signs.
Warning signs of possible blood clots in the legs include:
- Pain in your calf and leg that is not related to your incision
- Tenderness or redness in the calf
- New or increasing swelling in your thigh, calf, ankle or foot
Warning signs of a clot in your lungs (pulmonary embolism) include:
- Sudden unexplained shortness of breath
- Sudden onset of chest pain
- Localised chest pain with coughing
Your recovery plan includes early, regular walking and leg exercises which are designed to reduce the risk of clots following surgery. Walking and exercising regularly should be continued when you are discharged home. Your mobility and recovery exercise plan is monitored by our Orthopaedic Care Team following your surgery.
Following a hip or knee replacement, cycling on a stationary bike is a good way to get back to moderate exercise. You may start cycling when you are able to safely get on and off the stationary bike. Your surgeon will advise when it is safe to do so. Six weeks after your hip or knee replacement surgery you can begin using light weights on your legs. You should begin with low weights and gradually increase them. Always check with your physiotherapist prior to beginning weights or gym work.
It is not advisable to do any regular jogging, running or jumping activities after your hip or knee replacement surgery, particularly for the first three months following surgery. You will need to check with your surgeon regarding returning to impact sports because they may affect your hip or knee replacement in the long term.