How long does hip surgery take?

The duration of hip surgery depends on the exact procedure being performed. A primary total hip replacement commonly takes about one to two hours, although the time can vary from patient to patient. More complex procedures, such as revision hip replacement, fracture surgery, or surgery in a patient who has had previous operations, may take longer.

The total time spent in the operating area is longer than the actual surgical time. Before the operation, the anaesthesia team prepares the patient, checks vital signs, and gives either general anaesthesia or spinal anaesthesia depending on the case. After surgery, the patient is moved to a recovery area for monitoring until the effects of anaesthesia begin to wear off.

Your surgeon can give a more accurate estimate once the exact procedure has been planned. The length of surgery is only one part of treatment; safe preparation, careful implant positioning, pain control, and early rehabilitation are equally important for a good recovery.

Factors such as previous hip operations, obesity, severe deformity, fractures, and the need for additional surgical work can affect operating time. Patients should therefore treat any quoted duration as an estimate rather than a promise. The surgical team’s priority is to perform the procedure safely and accurately, not to finish within a particular number of minutes.