Relaxing hip precautions increased patient satisfaction and promoted quicker return to normal activities after total hip arthroplasty
Q In patients who have had uncemented primary total hip arthroplasty (THA), does removal of several postoperative functional restrictions (PFR) reduce the risk of postoperative dislocation?
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
not concealed.
Blinding:
unblinded.
Follow up period:
⩾6 months
Setting:
a university hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Patients:
265 patients (303 hips) (mean age 58 y, 52% men) who received uncemented primary THA through an anterolateral approach. Exclusion criteria included previous surgery on the ipsilateral hip, hyperflexibility syndromes, and neuromuscular compromise (eg, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease).
Intervention:
PFR (n = 152) or no PFR (n = 151). All patients were expected to limit the range of motion of the hip for the first 6 weeks to <90° of flexion and 45° of external and internal rotation, and to avoid adduction (crossing legs). Furthermore, patients in the PFR group were managed with the placement of an abduction pillow in the operating room before bed transfer; used pillows to maintain abduction …
