Rehabilitation after hip surgery

Some retirees face a hip fracture, and the reason for this is most often osteoporosis. With medical help in this case, you can not hesitate, because with age, the bones grow together more slowly, and the only way to cure a fracture is surgery. Such an injury is fraught with the fact that a person can get tissue necrosis due to long immobility, earn disability or even die. Today's methods of treatment will help a person recover in most cases.

Features of the operation

There are two main methods of treatment: with and without surgery (conservative method). In case of a complex fracture, surgery is indispensable, it is almost always performed, except in cases where surgery is contraindicated for the patient, since the conservative method is much less effective. Surgery can be done by:

• Osteosynthesis - parts of a broken bone are fixed together with titanium wires, pins or screws to fuse them for several months. For elderly patients, this operation will not be effective, since at the age of 65 and older, the regeneration processes of bone tissue are much slower.
• Endoprosthetics - a titanium joint is placed in place of the hip joint. Such an operation is performed on elderly patients over 65 years of age or those who have not been helped by the osteosynthesis procedure. There are two types of endoprosthetics: one- and two-sided. In the first case, the femoral head is replaced with a titanium one, the service life of which should not exceed five years.

Many factors affect the speed of recovery after surgery. Carrying out the necessary rehabilitation measures will help the patient to get back on his feet faster and avoid possible complications, and it is possible and necessary to start them in a short time after the operation, and not waiting for the complete fusion of the bone.

Recovery periods

First days

As soon as the operation is performed, it is necessary to ensure that the operated limb of the patient is in the proper position: usually the patient's legs are bred with a specially designed roller.

After the patient wakes up from anesthesia, he will already feel the foot. You can begin to do the simplest exercises: move and bend your toes, press the heels of your feet into the bed, strain the muscle of a healthy leg. After three hours, it will already be possible to slowly turn the feet (but you need to make sure that this does not cause discomfort).

On the second day after the operation, the patient was prescribed active bed rest. Despite this, it is recommended to do simple gymnastics: imitation of walking with the feet (moving the shoulders and arms accordingly), bending the knees (both legs, or a healthy leg, while leaning on the heel and tilting in different directions, periodically pausing), alternately lifting straight legs for two or three seconds at a low altitude. You can also strain the muscles of your back and abdomen for no more than 30 seconds, shake your hands, exercise with an expander, knead your neck with tilts and turns in different directions - all this has a positive effect on blood circulation and recovery after surgery. The operated site is bandaged on the same day, and every two to three days until the wounds are completely healed. You need to wait about 14 days after the surgery to remove the stitches.

In the first 48 hours after the operation, you must follow a strict diet: sour-milk products, porridge on the water, kissels. No food that causes gas in the intestines. A minimum of salt and sugar, food only in a liquid state or in the form of mashed potatoes.

On the third day, you should begin to massage the operated limb with circular movements, stroking, grasping, etc. Such a procedure is needed in order to stop pain, start trophic processes and disperse blood and lymph to enter the limb. In many medical institutions, in addition to this event, ultrasound therapy, UHF, impulsive currents and magnetotherapy are also carried out.

On the fourth day, the patient can already gently bend the problem limb of the hip joint area and for a few seconds strain and relax various muscles of the operated leg (from the buttock to the foot).

On the fifth day, the patient can already get out of bed with the help of crutches. First you need to stand upright for a while to get used to it. Then you can try to walk without stepping on the injured leg.

After a week, you already need to walk more often - at least twice a day for ten minutes, increasing to three times a day for fifteen. You have to get used to sitting on your own.

During the second week, it is recommended to perform the following rehabilitation exercises:

• lying face up, straighten your legs, then bring them together and spread them, without lifting them out of bed;
• raise straight legs, lying face up;
• bend the knee of a healthy leg, leaning on the heel, raise the pelvis and hold for a while;
• lean on your hands, straighten both legs and try to lift the body;
• sit down, stretch both legs and hold them for a couple of seconds;
• walk up and down stairs on crutches.

Further recovery

The standard stay in the hospital lasts no more than three weeks, after which the patient is discharged, and further rehabilitation measures are carried out at home (either in a sanatorium or a medical center). For the safe movement of the patient around the apartment, you need to lay rubber mats in the bathroom, toilet and kitchen. When walking, he must use crutches, a cane or specially equipped handrails.

Rehabilitation procedures for the elderly should:

• eliminate swelling;
• restore blood flow in the operated limb;
• promote rapid healing of wounds;
• prevent any infection from entering the operated area.

When performing osteosynthesis, the recovery time after surgery does not, on average, exceed four months until the bones are completely fused. During endoprosthetics, this period is significantly shorter, since the broken joint is replaced with a titanium one, and ranges from 1 to 2 months, after which you can fully walk without additional devices. You can move your legs and walk on crutches much earlier.

After a hip fracture, the following measures are recommended for complete rehabilitation:

• Exercise therapy - special exercises that can be performed after the patient's condition improves. First under the supervision of a specialist, then on their own.
• A special diet is needed, including vitamin-rich, nutritious foods with calcium. For example, dairy products.
• Psychotherapeutic procedures. It is necessary to monitor the psychological state of the patient.
• Special trainers.
• Physiotherapeutic procedures aimed at preventing edema and wound healing, as well as preventing infections and resuming blood circulation in the operated limb. For example, ultra-high frequency therapy, magnetotherapy, electrophoresis, etc.
• Massage - is necessary to prevent tissue necrosis and other complications that may be caused by the patient's long immobility. It is necessary to massage healthy muscles in order to resume blood circulation in the operated limb.
• Reduction of pain to a minimum or its complete elimination. For this, special medications are used, taken orally or injected intramuscularly.

What affects the rehabilitation of the femoral neck

For a speedy recovery, you need to start moving as soon as possible, but at the same time being careful. Get up from a lying position to a sitting position, stand up and walk with crutches. If a person cannot move, it has a bad effect on his emotional state. He becomes depressed, begins to feel hopelessness, his own insignificance, he may stop wanting to do anything at all. Therefore, we must not forget to provide the patient with psychological support, encourage him in every possible way.

The following factors influence the speed of recovery after surgery in the elderly:

1. Physiotherapy procedures.
2. Massage.
3. Physiotherapy. It is impossible to neglect various exercises that help improve blood supply in the operated area.
4. Diet. The first time after the operation is allowed to eat no earlier than five to six hours after the surgical intervention. Do not drink carbonated and high-grade drinks, strong tea and coffee. It is forbidden to eat sweets and fatty foods. The diet should include foods rich in vitamins that promote recovery - these are calcium, vitamins B, C, D, phosphorus, zinc. Protein should be consumed at least 150 grams per day (equally animal and vegetable).
5. Breathing exercises. Oxygenated blood positively affects the rate of metabolic processes and the rate of bone tissue fusion. You need to take deep breaths, raising both hands through the sides up, then slowly exhale.
6. motor mode. You can not move without the necessary compression stockings or tights, as they equalize the pressure on the veins.

There are several rules that must not be violated during rehabilitation after hip surgery:

• sharp and strong forward bends should be avoided;
• it is forbidden to raise the knee of the affected leg above the thigh;
• avoid crossing the legs at the ankles and knees;
• do not rotate the hip of the operated leg.

Also, we must not forget that in the first two days after surgery, it is allowed to sleep only on your back.

Where to recover after surgery

Many are wondering where it is better to undergo rehabilitation: at home or in special centers. After surgery, patients are encouraged to recover in rehabilitation centers where they can count on professional help. At home, many procedures can cause discomfort to the patient. In a specialized institution, he can receive the proper level of psychological assistance (which helps to clarify the causes of a depressed emotional state and eliminate it), and the premises themselves are equipped so that the patient can move comfortably, as well as visit the pool and massage therapist.

The above recommendations will help many people to properly survive a hip fracture, recover and restore their former rhythm of life, avoiding possible unpleasant consequences in the form of complications and infections. Despite the fact that it is much more difficult for older people to experience such injuries, gymnastics, proper sleep, nutrition and all the necessary procedures will help them fully rehabilitate.