A normal individual has what surgeons refer to as a joint capsule as well as ligaments that keep her ball joint positioned in her hip. During a total hip replacement, the surgeon cuts through these soft tissues. Until the patient fully heals and these tissues strengthen enough to hold the ball portion of the hip replacement in place, the risk exists for it to slip out. Special precautions that a patient must rigidly follow prevent this from occurring.
Bending
A patient must remember that during the first few weeks after his surgery he can never bend forward more than 90 degrees at his hip. This action can cause the ball to slip out and dislocate the hip. This can occur when he sits forward too far in either a chair or bed or when bending down.
Special Tools
Hip replacement patients utilize special tools to pick up objects and to dress themselves. Bending is an important part of these activities, but they must stay cognizant of the fact that they cannot bend at the waist. Tools designed to perform such tasks as picking up something or allowing patients to put their socks and shoes on are available and easy to master. Some of these tools include a long-handled shoehorn, reachers and a sock aid tool.
Low Seats
A patient must stay out of chairs that are so low that their knees wind up higher than their hips. This includes toilet seats. Many hip replacement patients require an elevated toilet seat to keep from having this happen. By putting pillows in a favorite chair if it is too low, the patient may sit in it and keep the hips more elevated than the knees.
Crossing Legs
It is vital for hip replacement patients to realize that they cannot cross their legs. While seated, they should keep their feet approximately six inches apart. While standing, they should never cross their feet. This is also true lying down. People may sleep with a pillow between their legs so they cannot cross them.
Safety Precautions
It is prudent for those recovering from a hip replacement to put things they use often at a height that does not make them bend down or reach high. People typically rearrange the furniture in their home; this allows them to negotiate easily through rooms when using a walker or crutches. Loose throw rugs and electrical cords may precipitate a fall unless they are removed or arranged so they are not a threat. Bathing is a problem for a hip replacement patient, but a shower chair or a grab bar installed in the bathroom can help to overcome this.
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