Knee or hip prosthesis

In the month before your admission, you will have the opportunity to attend an information session. During this session, you will receive more information about how to prepare for your procedure, your hospital stay and the subsequent rehabilitation. It is important to be well informed about this before your procedure. 

You can choose to attend an in-person information session at the hospital, or you will receive several short videos by e-mail.

The videos below already contain a lot of information about what you can expect.

A knee prosthesis can be placed using an innovative robot (Navio®, now CORI). Sint-Trudo Hospital was the first hospital in Belgium where this robot became operational. The robot assists the surgeon in positioning the total knee prosthesis with a very high degree of accuracy, so that it is optimally aligned with the natural position of the knee and the patient's individual needs in the treatment of osteoarthritis. 

This relatively new technique allows us to place a prosthesis that takes into account both the bony structures and the soft tissues (tendons, ligaments) of the original knee. In younger patients too, the robot can be used for less invasive procedures such as a partial knee prosthesis, ensuring highly precise placement. 

We started using robotic surgery in our hospital in 2018, and it is expected to become the standard approach within prosthetic surgery.

More info: reportage TV Limburg

Knee replacement:

You will spend three days in the hospital. The day of surgery is the first day in this regard. On this first day we start practicing your daily actions and movements. This will continue on the second day. On the third day, discharge is prepared and you can return home in the early afternoon.

Hip replacement:

You will spend two days in the hospital. The day of surgery is the first day here. On this first day we will start practicing your daily actions and movements. On the second day, discharge will be prepared and you will be able to go home in the early afternoon.

Room supplements are costs the hospital may charge for treatment or stay in a single room. You can find the exact amount in the admission statement. Both fees and room supplements are payable by you, unless you have additional hospitalization insurance that covers these costs. When in doubt, check with your insurance company.

No, shaving is not necessary for everyone. If it is nevertheless necessary, it is done in the hospital to prevent cuts.

The Isobetadine Uniwash® soap is available in pharmacies without a prescription. Instructions for use can be found on our website.

If you would like to come to the hospital for physical therapy after returning home, it is best to mention this during your pre-admission visit. If you make this decision at a later time (during the admission or after the surgery), it is best to let the physiotherapist know. This way, your appointment can still be arranged.

No, if you wish to continue rehabilitation (in the hospital or externally) after admission, this period is at least two weeks.

No, providing a hospital bed is not a necessity. Climbing stairs is taught during your stay in the hospital. When in doubt, you can always raise this question with the physiotherapist or occupational therapist, so that social services can be contacted if necessary (e.g. if you already had trouble climbing stairs before the operation, ...).

Before your admission, contact your hospital insurance to find out which costs are covered and which costs you will have to pay for yourself. For questions about the cost of your procedure, you can always have an estimate be made. It is best to contact the secretariat of your attending physician for this. Based on their information, the billing department can make an estimate. More information is available on the Sint-Trudo hospital website under your invoice.