Hip Precautions

Original Editor - Adu Omotoyosi Johnson

Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton, Kim Jackson, Adu Omotoyosi Johnson and Lauren Lopez  

Introduction

Hip precautions are a common component of standard postoperative care following total hip replacement surgery  Depending on individual health and mobility a prior surgery, one may need to maintain these precautions for 60-90 days and some as far as 6 months.

1.General Rule

• Never cross legs or ankles on sitting, standing or lying down
• Avoid bending your leg greater than 90 degrees
• When sitting or standing from a chair, bed or toilet you must extend your operated leg in front of you. 

2.Dressing

• Do not stand when dressing, you can either sit at the edge of your bed if it is stable or on a chair
• Never bend over, raise or cross legs when dressing
• Use an aid when donning or shoes (a reacher or a long-handled shoehorn) or socks
• When undressing ensure you remove clothes from the surgery side last

3.Sitting

• Never sit for too long in the same position, you can change position every 30 minutes interval
• Always ensure your feet are 6 inches (15cm) apart
• Do not cross your legs
• Avoid rocking chairs, cushion chairs, stools or sofas. Sit in a firm chair with straight back and armrests
• Avoid sitting on chairs that are too low, use pillow if necessary

4.Bathing/Toileting

• Use a special tub seat for sitting in the shower
• Use a rubber mat on the tub or shower floor. Ensure to keep bathroom floor clean and dry
• Never bend, squat or reach for anything while showering. Use a shower sponge with long handle and have someone wash the part of your body that are hard for you to reach.
• Ensure you use an elevated toilet seat. It will be difficult to get up safely if the seat is too low.

5.Ascending/Descending stairs

• When ascending, step first with the unaffected leg (the side that was not operated on)
• When descending, step first with the leg that you had surgery on.

6.Lying in bed

• Do not sleep on the side of your new hip or on your stomach. Ensure you place a pillow in between your thighs if you are sleeping on the other side.

7.Getting into/Riding a car

• Ensure you get into the car from street level, not from a curb or doorstep
• Ensure the car sit is not too low, use pillow if necessary
• Don’t go for long car rides, stop get and walk at about every 2 hours

8.Walking

• Ensure you use your crutches or walker until your doctor or physical therapist tells it is OK to stop using them
• Do not bear over the amount of weight your doctor or physical therapist tells you to bear on the operated hip
• Take small steps when turning.
• Avoid wearing slippers that can make you fall. Go slowly when walking on wet and uneven surfaces. 

Resources

• https://sunnybrook.ca/content/?page=musculoskeletal-hip-replacement-hip-precautions
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4536510/