Hip Dislocation

[lrd]

I got a call yesterday. My Mom was sitting in a chair, bent over to tie her shoes, and dislocated her hip. They put her in ICU for a couple of days with a brace and will send her home tomorrow with follow-up physical therapy. Because of her age, she will have to wear the brace for the rest of her life.

When my youngest was little, his elbow would dislocate -- but he was like Gumby back then and it would pop right back in.

Now, I know that you all have had all sorts of injuries, so can anyone out there give me any gouge on this? Also -- any suggestions to help her get through this would be helpful.

Thanks.
~L

Ouch!

lrd sorry to hear that.

FrontSight

[lrd]

Thanks for the well-wishes and PMs. She's out of the hospital, will have to wear the brace for a month, and will have daily PT until the Doc says otherwise.

[Floyd]

I shattered my hip (3 screws holding it together now) and dislocated it in a car accident on my way home from all things a Huey blast.
I know the pain hope she feels better.

[ccrn]

L

You dont give much Hx about your mothers hip so its kind of hard to say.

I do know people who have replacement hips can dislocate them pretty easily shortly after replacement by breaking the ninety degree angle when bending over or sitting down.

The best advice I could give at this point would be to encourage your mother to participate in her PT to the letter and do exactly as the MD orders.

Afterward I would make an educated guess that she will need to continue some form of strength training to avoid further dislocations, and also be seen by OT for some education with her ADLs.

I wish the best for your mother-

(edit spelling)

[lrd]

Originally Posted by ccrn

L

You dont give much Hx about your mothers hip so its kind of hard to say.

I do know people who have replacement hips can dislocate them pretty easily shortly after replacement by breaking the ninety degree angle when bending over or sitting down.

The best advice I could give at this point would be to encourage your mother to participate in her PT to the letter and do exactly as the MD orders.

Afterward I would make an educated guess that she will need to continue some form of strength training to avoid further dislocations, and also be seen my OT for some education with her ADLs.

I wish the best for your mother-

Thanks, ccrn. You were right on target with your comment about replacement hips -- she's had both of them replaced twice.

[ccrn]

Keep us posted on her progress.

Try to see if you can have an occupational therapist evaluate her home for hazards and activities that could increase the chance of further dislocations and or injury.

If she is currently spending a fair amount of time in bed or otherwise immobilized get her on a regimine of coughing deep breathing, and get her an incentive spirometer to use to avoid a pnuemonia process or atelectasis until she can get up and moving around.

Generaly speaking, pts who have family involved with their care have much better outcomes than those who dont-

HTH

[lrd]

Originally Posted by ccrn

Generaly speaking, pts who have family involved with their care have much better outcomes than those who dont-

We have a very large extended family, so this is one thing we don't have to worry about.