Hip replacement surgery usually takes place when a condition of the hip or an injury in the hip is beyond the treatment options of therapy and medication. Once a person undergoes a hip replacement surgery, there are several changes they might encounter in their physical abilities. There is an entire process of rehabilitation one has to undergo after a hip replacement surgery. There is a wide range of products that are specially designed to enable a person to smoothly complete the rehabilitation as well as a collection of daily aids that assist a person in day to day activities.
What Are the Complications or Risks of Hip Replacement Surgery?
Since hip replacement surgery is a complicated and dexterous surgery there are a number of risks associated with it:
- Infections – Infections can occur near the surgical site and can be usually controlled and eliminated using antibiotics. In rare cases it spreads to the prosthesis and may require another surgery to change the prosthesis.
- Fractures – Since the surgery is still fresh, there are possibilities that a fracture may occur in the healthy bones of the hip or around the hip. Usually they are minor hairline fractures that heal themselves.
- Dislocation – Though a surgeon makes sure that the hip is placed perfectly, there might be chances that the loosening of muscles might dislocate the hip after a few months of surgery. Exerting a lot of stress on a new hip might increase the chances of dislocation.
- Blood Clots – Clots usually occur in the region near the hip, such as legs or upper abdomen. Blood thinning medications are usually prescribed to prevent this from happening, since a blood clot might cause other complications in the body
- Leg Length – Hip replacement surgery might loosen or contract the muscles of the hip and thus cause a difference in the length of the legs.
Precautions On Should Take After A Hip Replacement Surgery
- Avoid falls or injuries that might dislocate the hip
- Avoid bending at 90 degree angle at the hip
- Use a pillow between both the legs while sleeping
- Avoid inward rotation of the operated leg.
- A stick or reacher may help you to pick up or grab things in your surroundings.
- One should avoid climbing stairs
- Using aids to assist daily activities to prevent exertion
Aids for Hip Replacement Surgery
Rehabilitation and exercise will help you regain the strength of the hip and allow for normal function, depending from individual to individual. Till then, one requires a number of aids to allow for easier execution of day to day chores and activities.
- Dressing Aids – Dressing requires a lot of bending and rising. This can be difficult for people who have undergone a hip replacement surgery. Hence adaptive dressing aids are a must as they help a person dress independently and with comfort and safety.
- Bathroom Safety Aids – The bathroom is one of the most vulnerable places for a person after a hip replacement surgery. Bath safety aids such as grab rails, shower bars, etc can give them stability while moving around in the bathroom and allowing for easier standing and sitting. Raised toilet seats are used to provide a better height of the body so that one doesn’t have to bend a lot while sitting on a toilet seat. Shower heads and shower sprays are used to enabling independent bathing. These shower aids are designed to bathe without moving a lot and allowing a user to wash the areas that are hard to reach.
- Reachers – Reachers are the most common aids to prevent excessive movement of the hip. One can grab, pick, push, or lift object easily using a reachers. There are a number of features that can be designed into the reacher depending on your needs.
- Transfer Benches – Transfer benches are used to allow for easy transfers in the bathroom. One can easily move into a bathtub or move out with comfort and safety. There are other transfer aids such as transfer boards, transfer slings, transfer belts, etc. that can also allow for transfer needs outside the bathroom.
- Canes and Crutches – Canes are a great support for safe and comfortable mobility. Modern day canes are equipped with great features to allow for a more secure moving around. Crutches can also be used for greater mobility and are usually recommended when a person suffers from a change in the length of the leg.
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FAQ's
Frequently asked questions
Hip replacement is recommended to people who have complications such as pain, limited mobility and decreased ability to do daily activities. Pain may be caused due to wearing down of the hip joint that is caused by osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis (a chronic inflammatory disease that causes joint pain, stiffness and swelling), avascular necrosis (loss of bone caused by insufficient blood supply) or injury and bone tumors that may lead to breakdown of the hip joint.
A total hip replacement is a surgery that removes the ball of the upper thighbone (femur) and damaged cartilage from the hip socket. A metal ball is fixed solidly inside the femur in place of the original ball. The socket is replaced with a plastic or metal liner that is mostly fixed inside a metal shell. This creates a smoothly functioning joint that does not hurt.
Post hip replacement surgery, you will need a high toilet seat for at least 3 months. Also it is recommended to have a long-handled shoe horn, sock aid, reacher or grabber and a dressing stick to aid in dressing. You may also require a bath seat or grab bars in the bathroom.
All high-impact activities including running, singles tennis, and basketball are prohibited. Injury-prone sports like downhill skiing are also restricted. Post hip replacement you will be restricted form crossing your legs, twisting operated leg, bending the operated leg at 90 degrees at the hip or twisting side-to-side.
Post hip replacement you may find that the leg with the new hip may be longer than before. This may be because of previous shortening due to the hip disease or because of a need to lengthen the hip to avoid dislocation. Most patients get used to this feeling with time or they can use a small lift/orthoses in the other shoe. Some patients may experience aching in the thigh on weight bearing for a few months after surgery.
