First, separate the two procedures by what is replaced
Partial hip replacement replaces the femoral head, unlike total replacement of both joint surfaces. That single distinction drives most of the planning questions that follow. In a partial replacement, the surgeon removes and replaces the ball at the top of the femur but leaves the patient's own acetabulum, the socket, in place. In a total hip replacement, both the femoral head and the socket surface are replaced with prosthetic components.
This is not a matter of one operation being more advanced than the other. The appropriate extent depends on the condition of the joint surfaces, the reason for surgery, the patient's bone quality and the treating surgeon's assessment. A hip fracture in an older adult may be treated with a partial replacement when the socket is not damaged, while degenerative arthritis affecting both surfaces may call for a total replacement. Those are clinical judgements, not patient preferences to select from a menu.
Your first task is therefore to confirm what has actually been proposed. Ask the surgeon to write the procedure name in full, state which surfaces will be replaced, and explain what the imaging shows about the socket and the femoral head. If the proposal is partial replacement, ask why the socket does not need resurfacing. If it is total replacement, ask what the socket findings are. The answer should reference your own imaging and examination, not general rules.
Questions that change the plan before you commit to travel
Once you know the proposed extent, the next step is to test whether the plan is stable enough to build travel around. A plan that may change after the surgeon examines you in person is different from one that is already fixed. Ask directly: is this the procedure you expect to perform, or a provisional option pending examination and imaging in China?
Several specific questions are worth putting in writing to the treating team:
What is the exact procedure name and which joint surfaces will be replaced?
What findings in my imaging and examination support this extent rather than the alternative?
What device or implant type is planned, and what are the alternatives if that device is not suitable or available?
Are there any conditions in my medical history that would change the anaesthetic, the approach or the aftercare plan?
What would make you change the plan after seeing me in person?
What written information will I receive before consent, and in what language?
These questions are not a challenge to the surgeon's judgement. They are the information you need to decide whether to travel, how to prepare and what to tell your family and local doctor. If the answers are vague or the plan keeps shifting, that is useful information about the stage of the discussion.
What records the receiving team needs to assess your case
A records-based review in China can only work with what you send. For a proposed hip replacement, the most useful items are usually the ones that show the joint itself and the reason surgery is being considered. These typically include recent X-rays of the hip and pelvis, any CT or MRI reports, the operation note if you have had previous hip surgery, and a clear summary of your symptoms and how they affect daily life.
Also include relevant medical history: heart or lung conditions, diabetes, blood-thinning medicines, previous infections, allergies and any previous joint replacement. If you have had a hip replacement before, the previous implant details and the reason for any revision matter. If you have had a fracture, the injury films and any treatment already given are important.
Send reports and images rather than a complete archive at first contact. A brief summary with the key diagnosis, the main question and the relevant imaging is enough for an initial review. The team can then tell you what else is missing. Do not send passport numbers, payment details or your full medical file through an initial enquiry form.
It is worth asking the receiving team two questions about records: which imaging format they can read, and whether they need the original files or a disc. The answer may affect how you prepare your records before travel.
Planning example: how the choice changes preparation
Consider a hypothetical patient with a displaced hip fracture and no pre-existing arthritis. The surgeon proposes partial hip replacement because the socket appears intact. The planning questions are then about fracture care, anaesthetic assessment, and how soon the patient can safely travel after surgery. The socket is not being replaced, so questions about socket components do not apply.
Now consider a hypothetical patient with advanced osteoarthritis affecting both the femoral head and the acetabulum. The surgeon proposes total hip replacement because both surfaces are damaged. The planning questions shift to the socket component, bearing surface options, and the longer aftercare and rehabilitation plan that may follow a total replacement.
In both examples, the same practical questions apply: what is the exact procedure, what device is planned, what does the written plan include, and what follow-up is expected. The difference is in the clinical detail, not in the administrative process. A labelled planning example like this is not medical advice; it shows how the proposed extent changes what you need to ask and prepare.
Costs, coordination and what to confirm in writing
Hospital fees, our coordination fees and travel costs are separate. The hospital charges for consultation, imaging, surgery, the implant, medicines, ward and follow-up. Our coordination fees cover non-clinical services such as appointment matching, interpretation and practical support, and are agreed separately. Travel costs, accommodation and any companion expenses are yours.
Because implant choice, ward type, length of stay and aftercare vary by case, no single figure applies to every patient. Ask the hospital for a written estimate that states what is included, what is excluded and what remains undecided until after examination. Ask specifically whether the implant, operating theatre time, intensive care if needed, physiotherapy and follow-up visits are inside or outside the quoted scope. If the quote does not mention an item, ask rather than assume.
For a partial hip replacement, the implant is typically a femoral component only, while a total replacement involves both femoral and acetabular components. The number of components can affect the estimate, but the treating hospital must confirm the actual scope for your case. Do not rely on a general figure from another hospital or another country.
If you are comparing hospitals, ask each one the same written questions so the answers are comparable. A lower headline figure with many exclusions is not the same as a higher figure with a broader scope.
Aftercare, follow-up and the handover home
The aftercare plan depends on the procedure, your general health and the surgeon's instructions. Ask the treating team what restrictions apply, what physiotherapy is expected, and when follow-up imaging or review is needed. Do not assume that partial and total replacements share the same recovery pattern; the surgeon should explain the specific plan for your operation.
Before you travel home, ask for a written discharge summary in a language your local doctor can read. It should state the procedure performed, the implant details, medicines, wound care instructions, activity restrictions and the recommended follow-up. Ask whether the hospital can provide imaging or reports on a disc or through a secure link.
Your local doctor or physiotherapist will make their own assessment when you return. They may want to review the wound, check for complications, adjust medicines or arrange rehabilitation. The treating team in China can provide information and recommendations, but the receiving clinician decides what is appropriate in your home setting. Ask the Chinese team what information they will send and whether they can be contacted with questions after discharge.
If you develop fever, increasing pain, wound discharge, chest pain or shortness of breath after surgery, seek urgent local medical care rather than waiting for a routine follow-up. Post-operative complications need prompt assessment wherever you are.
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.