Clues from a blood sample can predict how quickly patients who have had hip-replacement surgery will make a full recovery, according to a new study. Researchers hope the blood test will provide insights into things patients can do before and after surgery, such as adhering to a special diet or exercise routine, that may help them regain full mobility. The findings may also help clinicians more accurately evaluate patient recovery after surgery. Currently, physicians gauge patients’ recovery by asking them questions about pain and physical activity, among other things. But these surveys are subjective, says Nima Aghaeepour, an assistant professor of anesthesiology, perioperative, and pain medicine at Stanford University, and it requires a lot of guesswork to interpret the responses. “We needed to find a more reliable, data-driven method to anticipate the precise needs of patients as they get back on their feet after surgery,” says Aghaeepour. Smartwatches and Blood Tests …