Patient/caregiver was instructed upon measures to promote safety and reduce the workload during immediate post-surgical phase as follows:
Certain arrangements and minor modifications can help improve safety, reduce the effort and workload for individuals during immediate phase of hip replacement surgery.
- Have the house well-lighted. Maintain easy access to the switch board, to avoid accessing difficult areas in the dark. Having a remote to turn the light on and off can be of extra help. Leaving a nightlamp on showing the path from bed to the restroom can help prevent accidents during the night. Maintaining a torch or flashlight at bedside can help during power shortage. Having a bedside commode and urinal can help reduce restroom trips during the night in a dazed state.
- During the immediate post-surgical phase, individuals must consider using raised toilet seat to help promote comfort and reduce the effort of sitting and lifting up from toilet. When using a raised toilet seat, make sure the seat is locked to the toilet, to prevent tipping of the seat.
- Having an elevated toilet seat with armrests can offer better support during sitting on toilet and getting up from toilet. The armrests enable transfer of weight on to them, which contributes to reduced stress on the aching surgical hip joint. This helps with improved safety and fall prevention.
- During the immediate phase of hip replacement, it can be difficult for the individual to enter the regular shower, by safely lifting the affected leg and bending the hip. Having a walk-in shower can help avoid this stress on the tender joints. Individuals can choose to have a shower chair, so that, they can be seated while taking shower and avoid the stress of weightbearing on the involved hip. Make sure the shower chair has armrests, which offer better support to hold on to while sitting and getting out of the chair. Make sure the seat of the chair is a little high up, which makes the task easier.
