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.
- The dressing stick can also be used to remove the pants off without bending much. While in standing position, loosen the pant at the waist and drop the pant down below the hip. Then, be comfortably seated and put the dressing stick through the good leg opening to hold it wide open and pull the good leg out first. The dressing stick could then be inserted into the surgical leg opening to hold it wide open and pull the surgical leg out too.
- Using sock aid can help put the sock on and prevent bending down to put it on. Pull the sock onto the sock aid until the toe end, with the heel on the bottom and have the foot in. Using the strings attached to the sock aid, pull the sock aid out, which leaves the sock on your foot. Using shoes without laces can help save effort in tying the lace.
- Using a dressing stick can help pull the sock off the foot and prevent bending down. Insert the dressing stick between your leg and the sock on the side of your leg, slide the stick slowly to the back of the leg, and push it off of the back of the heel.
