Hip Dislocation Precautions

The last thing you want to do after hip replacement surgery is unseat your new hip joint. That's why you should take certain precautions until the joint is fully healed. Specific precautions vary with the type of surgery performed, so get clear instructions--tailored to you--before leaving the hospital. There are some general measures you can take.

Twisting

• Avoid twisting your feet and crossing your legs.

  For all types of hip replacement surgery, twisting your feet and legs after surgery is not a good idea. Especially if you had an anterior surgical approach, according to eOrthopod, you should avoid twisting your foot, twisting your body away from your new hip or splaying your legs. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, you should avoid crossing your legs.

  If you had a posterior surgical approach, don't cross your legs or move your operated leg past the midline of your body. According to eOrthopod, that means not moving your knee inward when lying down. When lying on your side, you may need to place a pillow between your knees to keep your legs aligned, according to the AAOS.

Bending

• Avoid bending past 90 degrees.

  One of the most important precautions after hip surgery, according to the AAOS, is to avoid bending your leg past a 90-degree angle to your body. To help accomplish this goal, according to the National Library of Medicine, avoid sitting in furniture low enough to raise your knees above your hips. Consider installing a raised toilet seat. And don't bend from the waist to pick up something on the ground. Instead, use a hand-held reaching device.

  If you had an anterior surgical approach, your surgeon may tell you not to lie on your stomach or extend your leg backward from your body. And when laying on your back, according to Brigham and Women's Hospital, you may need to place a pillow under your knees to keep your hip joint slightly bent.

Weight-bearing

• Avoid high-impact activities.

  You probably will be allowed half to full weight-bearing shortly after surgery, according to Brigham and Women's Hospital protocols. However, your surgeon may want you to use a walker or crutches for several weeks after your procedure. And you may have to permanently avoid high-impact activities, such as jogging.

Exercise

• Stay active.

  Staying active after hip surgery will help you recover faster and more completely, according to experts at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. Your physical therapist will show you some simple exercises to strengthen your hip and other joints. By performing them faithfully and following the precautions outlined by your surgeon, you should be back to your normal activity level in a matter of weeks.