Posterior Hip Precautions After Surgery To Prevent Complications, Dislocation

Posterior hip precautions are a must after a posterior hip replacement surgery. You need to do them to avoid complications like dislocation.

Posterior Hip Precautions

UCLA Health shared three posterior hip precautions you must follow to ensure your recovery after hip surgery.

1. Do not cross your operated leg over your non-operated leg.

It would be best if you remembered this, regardless of whether you are seated or in bed. If you can't sleep on your back, you may lay on your non-surgical side and keep a pillow between the two knees to prevent the operated leg from rolling over the top. Never sleep on your surgical side due to the incision.

2. Do not bend your hip past 90 degrees.

You should avoid reaching down past your knees or sitting on a low surface where your knees will be higher than your hips. Build up the seat height as needed using a pillow or folded blanket. If you need something down low or on the floor, ask for assistance or use a reacher.

3. Do not rotate or turn your operated leg inward.

You should avoid turning your operated leg inward, whether in bed or in a standing position. Additionally, avoid turning toward the surgical side with the foot planted. Instead, ensure your foot is out first before making the turn.

Other tips also include not crossing your ankles while lying down. It's highly recommended to step up with your unaffected leg first before bringing up the affected leg to the same step.

When going downstairs, put your crutches or cane on the lower step before bringing your affected leg down. Finally, step down with the unaffected leg.

When you experience severe pain and cannot stand, or notice a crooked leg like your hip is out of position, or you cannot bend or straighten your leg, you may have dislocated your hip. Suppose you notice your leg or foot turns cold or changes color, see signs of a blood clot, and experience pain that doesn't get better after taking a pain medicine. If your incision opens and starts to bleed or you see signs of infections, immediately call your doctor or nurse for immediate medical care.

Posterior Hip Replacement

A total hip replacement can restore function and decrease pain for patients with osteoarthritis or who have experienced trauma to their hip. This is done by replacing the damaged or diseased bone with a metal or plastic implant designed to replicate a healthy hip joint. The posterior approach (through the back of the hip) is the most commonly utilized total hip replacement, which has been performed successfully for decades. The anterior approach (through the front of the hip) has been used as long as the posterior approach, but its popularity has grown in the US over the past 10-15 years.

Most hip replacement surgery uses the posterior approach where patients are positioned on their side during surgery, and the surgeons make 4 to 6 incisions behind the hip, along the buttock. The procedure takes 60 to 70 minutes. This is the most common approach and offers utmost safety to patients.

The anterior approach is for those who are not overweight, have no femur deformities, and have normal pelvis anatomy. Patients are positioned on their backs during the surgery to allow the surgeon to manipulate the leg. It will take 4 to 6 incisions on the upper thigh. The procedure usually takes longer, between 90 to 100 minutes. This is more challenging than the posterior. So, those who need to undergo this procedure should find an experienced surgeon.

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