Patient/caregiver was instructed upon precautions to be observed during immediate phase of post hip replacement surgery as follows:
- Compliance with weight bearing limitations: Usually, full weight bearing could be allowed after the surgery on compliance with use of the recommended assistive devices. Check with your surgeon for any limitations placed on weight bearing in your case.
- Compliance with SCDs: As the mobility and range of motion in the joint is limited during immediate post-surgical phase, blood tends to pool in the deep veins of the limb and increase risk for clot formation. You could be recommended use of sequential compression devices (SCDs) for 8 hours a day during immediate post-surgical phase. These devices have sleeves that are wrapped around your legs. Upon activation of the device, the sleeves cause sequential compression of the legs. This compression promotes movement of blood up along the veins, prevents pooling of blood in lower legs, and thus reduce risk for clot formation.
- Compliance with ankle pumps: Ankle pump exercises are very important to keep the blood moving up along the veins in lower extremities, prevent pooling of blood due to gravity, and thus prevent formation of clots. Observe compliance with practicing the recommended number of ankle pumps every day to help keep the blood moving.
