Hip fracture presents with huge negative consequences on individuals and society at large. It is
Hip fracture ( ie fracture of the thigh bone, femur) can compromise the blood supply to the femur, especially at the neck of femur. In the situation, the head of the femur is replaced by half hip joint or hemiarthroplasty. Other types of hip operation for fixing hip fracture, dynamic hip screw. With the fracture of the femoral bone and the fracture is mended with gamma nailing.
Rehabilitation is commenced soon hip operation (e.g. hip hemiarthroplasty). On the first day after the operation, a physiotherapist will carry out assessment of the operated limb and evaluate muscle strength, joint range of motion as well as pain level and respiratory status. Before getting patient out of the bed, the physiotherapist would have check if there are any post-operative instructions.##The patient will be guided to move towards the edge of the bed and sat there for a while to assess their status. Sometimes, patients may feel dizzy, have pain or are anxious about getting up. Depending on the presenting problems, the physio may work on some sitting balance and give re-assurance in the process of sitting the patient out in a chair.
The physio will generally begin with educating the patient and give advice on any precautions if there is one ( such as hip precautions for total hip replacement). Physiotherapy programme will move onto therapeutic exercises. Thereafter, physiotherapy will progresses to walking re-education with an appropriate walking aid (e.g.walking frame elbow crutches etc) with considerations given to the weight-bearing instructions, patient’s stability, coordination and many other factors. Along with walking re-education, patient is also taught a correct gait pattern.## Patient is also encouraged to engage in basic activity of daily living as able and pain allows at the early stage, while working towards normal towards normality, in line of healing process. Getting an older person re-orientated towards the normal activities of daily living is important as they can be affected by hospital admission following fracture and sometimes anaesthetics can still have effect on them.
The physio will continue to monitor the patient’s status and encourage increased mobility until the patient is discharged and patient still continue physiotherapy after being discharge from the hospital. Some patients have little input once they are back home again but could likely benefit from rehabilitation classes to improve their muscle power, balance, coordination, gait pattern and endurance under the supervision of a physiotherapist.
If you need a private physio to help you with physiotherapy after your hip operation, you can contact us and we will help to optimize your functional recovery.