Along with the knee, the hip is one of the most common joints to be replaced by a replacement prosthesis. In the course of life the surfaces of the cartilage at the hip joint can wear out and cause discomfort and pain in the hip. In serious cases the wear is so severe that the hip joint has to be replaced by a hip tep (total endoprosthesis). If the joint has been replaced by a hip tep in an operation, the follow-up treatment of the renewed hip joint by rehabilitative measures is valid.
Aftercare – what is done how/why?
Physiotherapy is a basic building block in the rehabilitative care of hip teps. The rehabilitation serves to restore the state of health and, with regard to the hip teps, to restore the hip function.
- In the beginning, patients walk with supports to relieve the operated leg and to mobilize again.
In most cases, walking can be done a few hours after the operation, if the patient’s circulation allows it. The early mobilization and activation of the body, in addition to drug treatment, has a preventive effect against complications such as thromboses or contractures. The circulation is reactivated and the tissue is better supplied with blood to support the healing process.
- One of the most common applications in the post-treatment of a hip tep is physiotherapy, in which exercises for strengthening and mobility are performed to restore joint function. Especially if the patient leaves the supports off after some time, the recovery of the hip function is important.
- To support the healing process, manual lymphatic drainage can be prescribed by the doctor, which can improve the removal of waste products in the healing process and is performed by physiotherapists.
- If the leg or the wound area should swell considerably as a result of the operation, manual lymph drainage can be used in combination with compression stockings, which exert a controlled external pressure on the leg and thus prevent further swelling of the legs. The external pressure of the compression stocking supports pain relief and the healing process after the operation.
