This patient story was updated in January 2021.
In March of 2019, Lila took a cruise ship vacation. While walking in her room on the cruise ship, she slipped and fell, causing excruciating pain. Keep reading to learn what to expect after surgery to repair a broken hip.
The cruise ship made a stop in Columbia where Lila was able to receive care at a nearby hospital. It was there that she learned that her left hip was broken and that she would need a hip replacement. She went forward with the hip replacement surgery at that hospital, and then was flown back to the U.S., accompanied by a flying nurse.
Lila recalls, “The flying nurse took me back to the U.S. I couldn’t walk and he literally carried me to and from the car to the plane. We flew first class back home, once we got to O’Hare airport, I went straight to the ambulance to Glenbrook Hospital where my internist told me to go see IBJI’s Dr. Sean Sutphen.”

The First Appointment
Dr. Sutphen is an Orthopedic Surgeon with Fellowship Training in Adult Hip and Knee Reconstruction and Total Joint Replacement. He assessed Lila and determined that she would need extensive physical therapy for her recovering hip. From his recommendation, Lila took part in physical therapy for multiple weeks to get her back to her active lifestyle.
Surgery to Repair Broken Hip
Later in December of 2019, Lila became dizzy and unfortunately took another fall, breaking her right hip. She knew from her previous experience with Dr. Sutphen that it was a “no brainer” to see him for her right hip replacement surgery.
“He operated on my right hip and took care of me exclusively. I enjoyed my visits with him and had great confidence in him. Dr. Sutphen spends as much time meeting with me as I need and makes sure to explain everything.”
Physical Therapy and Hip Recovery
After Lila’s right hip replacement surgery, she again began physical therapy. She was up on her feet the day after surgery with a walker. Lila says that the physical therapy was very helpful and she wouldn’t have walked if she didn’t do the exercises they gave her.
Life Changing Hip Surgery at IBJI
“Dr. Sutphen doesn’t just dump you off with a ‘hello and goodbye,’ he cares about his patients. He came to visit me at White Hall to see my physical therapy progress after he replaced my right hip. He’s a wonderful human being.” Dr. Sutphen has also treated Lila’s arthritic left knee with gel injections. She says that the injections have coincidentally helped her left hip which was operated on in Columbia. “I found Dr. Sutphen to be the most caring, considerate, warm, and congenial doctor, especially a surgeon, that I’ve ever been to. He’s such a sweetheart.”
Now, Lila says that she is feeling pretty good, “I am starting to walk without a cane. I’m very appreciative of the way I feel after everything I’ve been through. I workout every other day with weight and balance exercises and have been able to walk outside with walking sticks, as I don’t want to take the chance of falling.”
Request an Appointment with a Hip Surgeon
Need to see a doctor for your hip pain? Make an appointment today with a hip surgeon—online or in-person—to learn more treatment options to get you back to feeling your best.