Patients considering hip or knee surgery are often reluctant to ask probing questions of the surgeon, according to a July 2008 study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. That can affect the outcome of joint-replacement surgery, which is tied to the surgeon's experience and the aftercare you receive. Below are some questions to ask a surgeon. If you're not satisfied with the response, consider getting a second opinion.

How often in the past year have you performed this operation?
Choose a surgeon who does at least 50 a year. Also ask about the kinds of joints your surgeon uses and about his or her complication rates.

Does the institution do a high volume of joint replacements?
High-volume centers should be more likely to have experienced staff as well as facilities that can minimize the risk of infection. Also ask about the institution's infection rate. Ideally, it should be 1 percent or less.

What are the plans for pain management?
Recovery is fastest in patients who receive regional anesthesia and, for postoperative relief, local anesthetics that are injected around the joint or delivered through a catheter.

What are the plans for rehabilitation?
Look for an institution that gets patients moving soon after surgery. For many people, that reduces the risk of medical complications and hastens recovery.