| After having a total hip replacement there are strict | | | | extremities however and this is a good rule to follow. |
| precautions that must be followed to prevent | | | | If you cross the leg and hip that were operated on |
| dislocating the hip. Prior to surgery your surgeon may | | | | then dislocation is possible. Crossing the strong leg |
| have discussed these with you but for the most part | | | | over the operated leg will not result in dislocation. |
| they will not come into discussion until you have | | | | Avoid turning your operated leg inward to where |
| either gone through a joint replacement pre-operative | | | | your foot is turned inward as well. By internally |
| class, or have begun your physical therapy. | | | | turning your foot this movement is generated at the |
| There are three cardinal rules that are followed in | | | | hip causing the possibility of dislocation. |
| rehabilitation of your total hip replacement. | | | | This is easily done when you are walking for instance |
| 1. Do not cross your legs. | | | | and when turning while using a walker or cane, you |
| 2. Do not bend at the hips past 90 degrees | | | | pivot on the affected leg instead of picking it up. |
| 3. Do not turn your affected foot inward or internally | | | | When you pivot on the affected leg you will in turn |
| rotate your hip. | | | | internally rotate the hip possibility causing the head if |
| There may be several others that are mentioned | | | | the femur to jump out of the socket. |
| during your rehabilitation, but these are the three | | | | Now for the most part I have found it takes two of |
| main precautions that will always be discussed. These | | | | the three precautions to be broken at once before |
| precautions are generally followed for the first six | | | | dislocation will take place but this is not a hard fast |
| weeks after surgery however, you want to discuss | | | | rule either. This will depend on the integrity of the |
| that with your orthopedic surgeon as they may have | | | | surrounding soft tissue around the hip and the type |
| you follow these precautions longer. | | | | of hip prosthesis used. |
| By following the above precautions you can be | | | | The first six weeks of your rehabilitation will be vital |
| assured that you are reducing the chances of a | | | | to strengthen the surrounding muscles, tendons, and |
| dislocation. When sitting be sure that you also are | | | | ligaments so that they will do their job in supporting |
| sitting in a chair that does not rock or move in any | | | | the hip joint and locking in the prosthesis. |
| way. Be sure that the seat height does not allow you | | | | There are roughly 250,000 or more hip replacements |
| to sink deep enough that your knees rest or in other | | | | done a year in the US, the dislocation rate is |
| words are higher then your hips. If you find your | | | | somewhere between 1-3%. Dislocation is something |
| knees higher then your hips you are breaking the 90 | | | | not to be fearful of but to respect during the |
| degree plain. | | | | rehabilitation process. |
| Do not cross your legs when you are sitting. this | | | | Check with your surgeon for the exact time frame |
| something that is easy to do. Now in my estimation | | | | to follow the precautions then once that time has |
| the leg you want to avoid crossing is the leg and hip | | | | expired and the hip sufficiently healed, you will be |
| that were operated on. Nursing or doctors will tell | | | | back to living the life you expected and deserve pain |
| you to avoid crossing either leg due to the possibility | | | | free at last. |
| of compromising blood circulation in your lower | | | | |