What Partial Hip Replacement Actually Replaces
The first consent question is anatomical, not logistical. Partial hip replacement replaces the femoral head, unlike total replacement of both joint surfaces. That distinction matters because the procedure your surgeon proposes should match the damage found on imaging and the condition of the acetabulum. If the socket is also damaged, a partial replacement may not be the right operation, and you should ask why the partial option is being recommended over a total hip replacement.
Ask the surgeon to point to the specific imaging findings that support a partial rather than total approach. Request that this explanation is written into your records or the consent discussion notes. If you are comparing care in China with an opinion you already have at home, bring both sets of imaging and ask the Chinese team to explain any difference in recommendation. A changed recommendation is not automatically wrong, but you deserve to know what changed and why.
This is also where you clarify whether your enquiry concerns planned care or a later review. If you are currently in an acute fracture situation, local assessment and stabilisation take priority over any overseas planning. Once you are medically stable, a records-based review can help you understand whether partial hip replacement is appropriate for your case.
Questions About Your Records and How They Were Assessed
A consent decision depends on the quality of the information the clinical team has reviewed. Ask exactly which records were used to form the recommendation: plain X-rays, CT scans, MRI, operative notes from previous surgery, bone density reports, medication lists, and any cardiology or anaesthesia assessments. If a key record is missing, ask whether it changes the assessment or whether the team can proceed without it.
Do not assume that sending a partial file is enough. Ask whether the reviewing clinician saw the original imaging or only a report. Reports can omit detail that matters for implant sizing and bone quality. If the team needs the actual images, ask how to transfer them securely and whether a disc, portal upload or hospital-to-hospital transfer is required.
You should also ask what the records-based opinion can and cannot establish. A remote review can discuss whether partial hip replacement is a reasonable option, what alternatives exist, and what further tests might be needed in person. It cannot confirm final suitability, implant availability, or hospital acceptance. Those decisions belong to the treating hospital and licensed clinicians after examination. Ask what remains undecided until you are seen in person, and get that list in writing.
What the Written Plan and Estimate Should Cover
Before you consent, ask for a written plan that separates hospital charges from coordination fees and travel costs. Hospital fees, tests, implants, medicines, rooms and rehabilitation are paid to the hospital or relevant provider. Coordination fees are separate. Ask the named hospital how its written estimate works, what is included, what is excluded, and what remains undecided until after admission.
Specific items to clarify include: the type of implant proposed and whether it is available at that hospital; whether the estimate covers the implant, operating theatre, anaesthesia, blood products if needed, intensive care if needed, ward type, physiotherapy sessions, and follow-up imaging. Ask which of these are included, which are excluded, and which cannot be confirmed until the surgeon sees you. Do not accept a verbal range as a final figure.
Ask whether the estimate changes if the procedure is converted from partial to total hip replacement during surgery. This is a real possibility when the acetabulum turns out to be more damaged than imaging suggested. You want to know in advance how a change in procedure affects consent, cost and recovery planning. Ask who will speak to you or your family if that decision arises while you are under anaesthesia, and what your prior instructions should be.
Mobility Support, Discharge and Rehabilitation Questions
Partial hip replacement is usually followed by a rehabilitation programme, but the details depend on your fracture pattern, bone quality, general health and the surgeon's protocol. Ask who leads rehabilitation, how many sessions are planned, and whether inpatient rehabilitation is part of the admission or arranged separately. Ask what mobility support you will need during recovery, including walking aids, raised seating, and help with daily activities.
Discharge planning should be discussed before surgery, not after. Ask what the criteria are for discharge, where you are expected to go, and whether the hospital can arrange a rehabilitation bed or recommend a facility. If you are travelling from overseas, ask how the treating team assesses your fitness to travel and what supervision you need during the journey home. Do not book flights until the clinical team confirms you are fit to travel.
Rehabilitation instructions after partial hip replacement vary. Ask the surgeon and physiotherapist about weight-bearing status, hip precautions, exercises, and restrictions on sitting, bending or crossing your legs. Write these down before discharge. If you plan to continue rehabilitation in your home country, ask for a written summary that your local physiotherapist can follow. The receiving physiotherapist will make their own assessment, but a clear handover helps.
Consent Timing, Language and Who Decides
Consent should be taken before sedation, with time for you to ask questions and consider the answers. Ask when the consent discussion will happen, who will lead it, and whether an interpreter will be present. If you do not speak Mandarin, confirm that the consent form and the discussion are available in a language you understand. Do not sign a form you cannot read.
Ask who is responsible for explaining the risks and alternatives. The operating surgeon should discuss the specific risks of partial hip replacement for your case, including infection, blood clots, dislocation, nerve injury, leg length difference, and the possibility of further surgery. Ask about the evidence-based risk estimates for your situation and the uncertainty around them. No estimate guarantees an individual result.
You should also clarify who decides suitability. The hospital decides whether to accept you and which procedure to perform. A coordinator can help arrange appointments, interpret records and support communication, but does not decide clinical suitability or treatment. If you are considering care in China, ask the hospital directly what its assessment process involves and what it needs from you before a decision can be made.
Practical Next Step for an Overseas Enquiry
If you are not in an acute emergency, start with a brief summary of your situation: your main question, the diagnosis or injury, and the records you already have. An initial enquiry is free and does not require buying a proxy consultation. The team can help identify missing information and suggest the relevant next step, such as a records-based opinion or a specialist appointment request.
Write down the questions from this guide that still have no clear answer. The ones that matter most are the procedure choice, the written plan and estimate, how your records were assessed, mobility and rehabilitation arrangements, and who will lead the consent discussion. Bring that list to your next appointment, whether that is with your local surgeon or a Chinese hospital team.
If you are considering care in China, ask the hospital directly what its assessment process involves and what it needs from you before a decision can be made. A coordinator can help arrange appointments, interpret records and support communication, but does not decide clinical suitability or treatment.
For an acute fracture, seek local assessment first. Once you are stable and have a treatment recommendation, you can ask whether a review in China is appropriate for your situation. The hospital will decide suitability after examining you and reviewing your records. No outcome is guaranteed, and no overseas enquiry should delay necessary local care.
Sources & scope of this guide
References and official service information relevant to this guide.
This is general planning information and has not been individually reviewed by a doctor. Medical decisions and personal treatment advice come from your treating clinicians.