Hip replacement in Spain
Anterior approach hip surgery, with personal care from orthopaedic surgeon Lucas Kleijn, from your first call to the end of your rehabilitation.
5.0 on Google, 31 reviewsMore than 100 patients from IrelandMore than 2,500 hip replacements
Lucas Kleijn, orthopaedic surgeon
I specialise in primary hip replacement (a first new hip) through the muscle-sparing anterior approach (Direct Anterior Approach, DAA). I have more than twenty years of experience and have carried out more than 2,500 hip replacements. I look after you personally, from the first contact until the end of your rehabilitation.
When you need a new hip, what you want most is certainty: a safe operation, a good recovery, and the same doctor looking after you the whole way through.
I am Dutch and registered as a doctor in both the Netherlands and Spain. I talk with my patients in English or Dutch.
What patients write about Lucas Kleijn
5.0on Google, 31 reviews
There was no rushing in terms of pre and after care consultations. He was always extremely caring and allowed plenty of time to run through the whole process and to answer questions at every stage.
Everything from start to finish ran smoothly. No long waiting times or delays. The after care is excellent.
The minute I met Dr Kleijn I knew I was in safe hands. I trusted him immediately. (...) Open and honest.
Made me feel at ease about the whole surgery and then post surgery came to see me in the hospital to see how I was doing.
The difference is in the aftercare
With HipFix you do not go straight home after the operation. You stay at a comfortable care hotel or rehabilitation centre, where physiotherapy, medical support and help are close at hand. So you can put your attention on recovering, without depending on family or home care in the first weeks.
Medifit care hotel Daniya, Dénia
Comfortable suites, an international physiotherapy team and full board, within walking distance of the seafront. A good fit if you are fairly independent, or travelling with a partner or friend.
Residencia Ciudad Patricia, Benidorm
Nursing care around the clock, with a rehabilitation doctor and physiotherapists. For anyone who needs extra medical support.
Surgery in Alicante, at Vithas
Besides Dénia, Lucas Kleijn also operates at Vithas, a private hospital group, in the city of Alicante.
Alicante has a large international airport with direct flights from Ireland and the United Kingdom. Would you like to know whether Alicante or Dénia suits you better? Call or message Lucas and he will talk it through with you.
Ask Lucas about Alicante- WhereVithas, in the city of Alicante
- Your surgeonLucas Kleijn, the same surgeon as in Dénia
- Getting thereDirect flights to Alicante from Ireland and the UK
Paying for your operation
From Ireland
Many of our Irish patients come through Healthcare Abroad. What the HSE refunds, and how that works, is explained on their website. They can tell you what applies in your situation.
From the United Kingdom
Patients from the UK pay for their treatment themselves. Ask Lucas what treatment would cost in your case, so you know where you stand before you decide anything.
Insured in the Netherlands
Dutch health insurers often reimburse treatment in Spain. You will find the details on hipfix.nl.
The anterior approach
The anterior approach reaches the hip through a natural gap between the muscles. No muscles are detached from the bone. That way the stability around the hip is better preserved, and recovery is often faster than with traditional approaches.
- Faster recovery
- No muscle damage
- Less pain
- Less chance of limping
- Less chance of a difference in leg length
- Less chance of dislocation
In Dénia, Lucas Kleijn operates at HCB Dénia, a full hospital with an intensive care unit. Because he has fixed operating days, the wait for surgery is usually about four to six weeks.
The risks at a glance
Like any operation, a hip replacement carries risks. Lucas Kleijn will explain the possible complications to you before you decide.
| Serious infectionWound infection: low, but not zero | about 2% |
|---|---|
| ThrombosisSmall thanks to blood thinners, not zero | small |
| Serious nerve damageIn experienced hands | well under 1% |
| DislocationWith the anterior approach | under 1% |
On top of these come the general risks of any operation, such as complications from the anaesthetic. Read the informed consent
Recovering in the mild climate of Dénia
The mild climate, the seafront and the small scale of the rehabilitation give you the peace to work on your recovery and, step by step, to trust your new hip.
The coast of Dénia in the evening sun.
HCB Dénia, where Lucas Kleijn operates.
Lucas Kleijn with his surgical team.
Operated on last week, already on the way to recovery. On the right, Lucas Kleijn.
The garden of the care hotel in Dénia.
Residencia Ciudad Patricia in Benidorm.
Exercising in the water at Ciudad Patricia, Benidorm.
Exercises at the wall bars with the physiotherapist.
The old centre of Dénia.
A view over Dénia.
Sunset on the coast.
Questions patients often ask
How soon can I have surgery?
Lucas Kleijn operates on fixed days at HCB Dénia, which usually keeps the wait to about four to six weeks.
I don't speak Spanish. Will people understand me?
Lucas Kleijn looks after you personally and speaks English with you himself. The staff at HCB Dénia, the Medifit care hotel and Ciudad Patricia are used to looking after international patients.
I take blood thinners, use insulin or am overweight. Can I still be treated?
Usually, yes. HCB Dénia is a full hospital with an intensive care unit, internists and cardiologists. Lucas will look at your situation with you before anything is planned.
When can I fly home?
Because the risk of thrombosis is slightly higher after surgery, it is best to wait two to three weeks before the flight back to Ireland or the UK. Blood thinners keep the risk low in the first weeks, but not at zero. If your leg swells badly or you suddenly become short of breath, report it straight away.
Can my partner come with me?
Yes. During your rehabilitation your partner can stay in the same room with you, for a small extra fee.
How long does the operation take?
Between half an hour and an hour, depending on your build.
Which hip prosthesis is used?
The uncemented Polar hip prosthesis by Smith & Nephew. It has an ODEP rating of 10A* and good long-term results in a very large group of patients. HCB Dénia supplies the prostheses.
How should I sleep after the operation?
After the anterior approach there are usually no strict sleeping positions: you may sleep in any position that feels comfortable. A pillow between your legs is fine if it feels comfortable, but not necessary. If your leg is swollen, put it up, which you can also do sitting.
How long does recovery take?
That differs per person and depends on your condition before the operation and your recovery after it. Most patients walk on their own again within a few weeks and slowly build up their daily activities. Further recovery usually takes a few months. Sometimes complaints last longer: as your walking changes and the muscles and tendons adapt to the new hip, the soft tissue around it can become irritated. That can take a year to a year and a half to settle, and usually eases gradually. Lasting pain around the hip does not automatically mean something is wrong with the prosthesis.
Wondering whether a hip replacement in Spain is right for you?
In a no-obligation conversation we talk about your symptoms, look at your situation and tell you honestly whether treatment through HipFix suits you.
+31 6 41 43 85 43This is Lucas Kleijn's own Dutch mobile number (+31 is the Netherlands). You can also send him a WhatsApp message on it.
Or email contact@hipfix.nl. We usually get back to you within one working day.