Postoperative Hip Precautions After Total Hip Arthroplasty Via the Posterior Approach: A Prospective Randomized Trial

Rush University Medical Center1,133 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to determine if hip precautions, which are instructions that limit functional use of a hip replacement after surgery, affect the rate of dislocation in the first six weeks after primary total hip replacement surgery. The impact of hip precautions on a patient's return to activities of daily living and overall patient satisfaction will also be investigated. The overall cost effectiveness of hip precautions will be determined.

This study examines the necessity of postoperative hip precautions in patients after primary total hip arthroplasty via the posterior approach. Precautions are instructions that limit the functional use of the hip and are given for the first six weeks after surgery, with the goal of preventing an instability event resulting in dislocation. The hip precautions that will be investigated in this study are: no hip flexion past 90º, no crossing the legs, and no twisting at the waist.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

1,133

Conditions

Osteoarthritis Degenerative Joint Disease

Hip PrecautionsOTHER

Hip precautions are functional limitations of the hip replacement prescribed to patients for the first six weeks after surgery and are no hip flexion past 90º, no crossing the legs, and no twisting at the waist.

No Hip PrecautionsOTHER

Patients will not be prescribed hip precautions in the first 6 weeks after surgery. The hip precautions that will no longer be prescribed are: no hip flexion past 90º, no crossing the legs, and no twisting at the waist.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients undergoing a primary total hip arthroplasty via the posterior approach by participating attending surgeons at this institution * Index diagnosis of noninflammatory arthritis * Patients must be able to understand and comply with study procedures Exclusion Criteria: * Allergy or intolerance to the study materials * History of previous surgeries on the affected joint other than arthroscopy; i.e. revision THA or open surgeries

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Dislocation

Incidence of dislocation of the total hip arthroplasty will be recorded for both treatment groups.

Time frame: 6 weeks after surgery

Secondary Outcomes

Activities of Daily Living

The time from surgery to return to activities of daily living will be measured for both treatment groups. This includes return to activities of bathing, return to work, and return to driving.

Time frame: 1 year after surgery