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Ajay Srivastava MD

When Can I Drive After Hip or Knee Replacement?

General Timing

Returning to driving after total hip or knee replacement depends on several factors, especially which side was operated on and how comfortably and safely you can control the vehicle. Many surgeons recommend waiting about four to six weeks. Some patients may be ready as early as two or three weeks especially after left-sided surgery, while others—particularly older patients or those with slower recovery—may need a month or more.

Why the Side of Surgery Matters

In an automatic car, the right leg moves between the accelerator and brake. For that reason, a right hip or right knee replacement usually requires more caution before returning to driving. A left-sided replacement may allow an earlier return because the left leg is not used for braking in an automatic-transmission car. This guidance does not apply to manual-transmission vehicles.

What Studies Suggest

Studies of brake reaction time after knee replacement suggest that braking performance may return to preoperative levels by about four weeks after right knee replacement and as early as two weeks after left knee replacement. Some carefully selected patients may be able to drive at two weeks, but the number of weeks since surgery alone does not determine whether driving is safe.

Before You Drive

Before returning to driving, make sure all of the following are true:

  • You are no longer taking opioid pain medicine.
  • You can walk comfortably and safely.
  • You can get in and out of the car without difficulty.
  • You can move your foot quickly between the accelerator and brake.
  • You can press the brake firmly without hesitation or pain.
  • You feel comfortable sitting in the driver’s seat without significant pain or stiffness.
In an automatic car, you should be able to move your right foot repeatedly from the accelerator to the brake and back again quickly, smoothly, and without pain or hesitation. Before entering traffic, practice smooth stops and a firm emergency stop in an empty parking lot.
Always obtain clearance from your surgeon and follow local driving and insurance requirements.

References

  1. American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS). Total Hip Replacement: When Can I Drive? HipKneeInfo.org.
  2. American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS). Total Knee Replacement: When Can I Drive? HipKneeInfo.org.
  3. Hartman J, et al. Braking Time Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review. J Arthroplasty. 2018;33(1):284-290. PMID: 28927563.
  4. Jordan M, et al. Brake response time is significantly impaired after total knee arthroplasty. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2015. PMID: 26135367.
  5. Jordan M, et al. Influence of left- and right-side total hip arthroplasty on the ability to perform an emergency stop while driving. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2014. PMID: 24685390.
  6. Patel PV, et al. Doctor when can I drive? A systematic review and meta-analysis of return to driving after total hip arthroplasty. Hip Int. 2023. PMID: 33736494.

Patient note: Recovery varies. Your operating surgeon should make the final decision about when you may drive.