Question about Hip Replacement....???...???

Nurses General Nursing

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Hey all... I'm just curious so if you can help me out, I'd really appreciate it! Does anyone know what happens to the bones after a hip replacement? My dad is having his right hip replaced (this is his 3rd replacement, but first on the right side)... and I'm curious as to what the Doc does with the bone afterwards...

I'm in Anatomy right now and I thought it might be interesting if they were to give it to my Dad so I can look at it? (I mean I've seen the bones and stuff in lab... but it would just be neat to see it since it is my dads)

Anyway, I'm just curious... I didn't want him to ask his Doc if it is a rediculous idea...

TIA

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We send them down to the lab to examine and then they destry. We don't let patients take home anything anymore, except kids getting dental surgery may have teeth for the tooth fairy. Sorry... no more tonsils and gallstones for the mantle :) I will tell you for your interest in A&P that the femoral head and acetabular surface removed during surgery do not look like your nice smooth surfaces you might see in lab. Even an uskilled eye can tell that the connective tissue is not what it should be it becomes rough and pitted... that pain shows!

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Thanks for your reply... I'll admit.. I'm bummed.. but I understand.... My dad has been in excruciating pain for a long while now.. I'm sure that when I'm in my 60's I'll be going through the same thing... my hips are bad already and I'm only 32... ugg

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

They are considered biohazard afterwards and are examined by a lab then distroyed appropriately (usually burned). I have had many patients ask if they can have the bones (some with religious reasons, have to be burried with all parts in certain cultures) and they are declined.

Same with teeth too I found...my son wanted to have the tooth fairy get his teeth when two were pulled and they said a definate NO! Not even I could get them!

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Wow! That is interesting! I'm glad you told me or I would really have felt like a ding-a-ling!

I'm assuming it does not apply to the prosthetic?? When he had his left hip repeated about 4 years ago, they let him keep the ball and joint (I'm not sure what the correct name of the part is?).... That was cool to see because after 10 years it had worn down... I can only imagine what the real bones must look like???

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

Oh man it deals with prostetics too! They get all up on biohazard and won't let it go! Even with religious reasons! I have tried..and failed big time no matter the stink I put on the subject!

Once inside I guess it is biohazard once out..burned....

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ER, L&D, ICU, OR, Educator.

We will still give tonsils to kids requesting to see them, but the bone goes to patholothy for analysis.

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We will show things like tonsils if the surgeon is agreeable, but nothing is given to the pts. Biohazard.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
I'm in Anatomy right now and I thought it might be interesting if they were to give it to my Dad so I can look at it? (I mean I've seen the bones and stuff in lab... but it would just be neat to see it since it is my dads)

We've had pts. request to see their specimen after the surgery, and we do that as much as we can, but nothing leaves the hospital with the pt.

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