For at least three months after surgery, the following precautions must be
followed to prevent the dislocation of the new hip.
Do not bend the affected hip beyond 90 degrees:
| Do not squat. |
| Do not bend too far forward while standing. |
| Do not lean too far forward while sitting. |
| Keep your hips higher than your knees while sitting. |
| Do not sit on low chairs, couches, or toilets. |
| Use a pillow on a low seat to raise your hips above your knees. |
| Use a raised toilet seat. |
| Do not raise your knees higher than your hip while climbing stairs. |
Do not let the leg on the affected side cross your body's centerline.
| Do not cross your legs. |
| When lying on your non-operated side, place a pillow between your legs |
| When sitting, keep your knees about six inches apart. |
Do not let the foot on the affected side turn inward.
| Keep your feet straight, not pigeon-toed, while lying, standing, or
sitting. |
Minimize stress on the new hip
| No jumping, running, or high impact exercise/sports. |
| Avoid prolonged walking, standing, or stair climbing for the first month. |
| Avoid activities with a high risk of falling. |
| Avoid lifting more than 20 to 40 pounds. |
| Monitor your weight; avoid gaining weight. |
| Avoid activities that involve bending or twisting the hip joint too far. |
Avoid infection in the hip.
| Take an antibiotic before any dental work, surgery, or invasive medical
test. |
| Call your PCP if you think you have an infection (sinus, urinary tract,
respiratory, cellulitis of the skin). |
It is OK to have an MRI if another medical condition warrants it. But airport
security machines may be set off by your hip.
These precautions were taken from a document handed to me by Dr. Tomford
before surgery.
|