Our rehabilitation protocol requires strict compliance for optimal results. To ensure your proper rehabilitation and recovery a detailed list of videos has been created and is available below (to find additional information about your recovery please review your Hip Arthroscopy Packet that was provided to you upon scheduling surgery).
If you are a patient of Dr. Carreira’s, and have had a hip arthroscopy, and you have any additional questions not covered on the recovery process from below, please feel free to contact us at the office.
Hip Arthroscopy Post Surgery Guidelines
In the above video, Dr. Carreira covers general information including the following topics:
- importance of hydration following a hip arthroscopy surgery,
- post-surgical medication,
- how to prevent infections,
- how to prevent blood clots (including a brief demonstration of ankle pumps),
- driving guidelines,
- weight-bearing guidelines,
- supporting the leg (including two simple demonstrations of moving the leg after surgery), and
- follow-up appointments.
Recovery from Hip Arthroscopy
CPM (Continuous Passive Motion) Machine Use after Hip Arthroscopy
A CPM machine will be supplied to you within 36 hours after surgery. In a 24 hour period and while in bed, the CPM should be used ideally for 4 to 6 hours if no microfracture has been performed, and for 6-8 hours if a microfracture has been performed, depending on Dr. Carreira’s instructions.
Use of the machine at night helps to avoid the need for its use during the waking hours. Following breakfast and morning P.T. exercises, it may be best to collect your things, including the cooler and foot pumps, lie back and get comfortable with a book, newspaper, or laptop and start the CPM.
At first, you will need assistance to get into the CPM. The detailed video available above serves as a guide for proper use of the CPM machine.
Anti-Rotation Boots
For the first three weeks following surgery, it is important to prevent external rotation of the hip and foot while sleeping. When we sleep, our feet naturally turn out, that is, externally rotates. To prevent this external rotation, the anti-rotation boots should be used with the Velcro strap tightened to keep all toes pointing towards the ceiling. These boots should be used only when you are lying down and resting.
If you cannot sleep in the CPM you will need to be in the anti-rotation boots. The CPM and anti-rotation boots are not used together. A detailed video available above serves as a guide for proper use of the anti-rotational boots following hip arthroscopy surgery.
Toe Touch Weight Bearing after Hip Arthroscopy
After hip arthroscopy, patients are commonly limited in weight bearing to toe touch weight bearing. Studies have shown that there is no significant difference in forces across the hip when comparing non weight bearing with toe touch weight bearing. Toe touch weight bearing also places less strain on the hip flexors which typically are inflamed after surgery. Toe touch weight-bearing with crutches is recommended from 2 days to 8 weeks after surgery. The length of protected weight bearing will be determined at the time of surgery dependent on what procedures have been performed.
A detailed video available above shows toe touch weight-bearing status with the use of crutches and a walker. Please use the proper technique shown below and the assistive device that was chosen for you during your recovery.
Proper Use of the Hip Brace
We recommend that you wear the hip brace for 10 days while you are standing or walking. When you get up from a resting position, place it securely around your waist and thigh. You may begin moving about once the hip brace is in place. The brace is set to limit hip flexion up to 90°. A detailed video available above serves as a guide for proper use of the Hip Brace following hip arthroscopy surgery.
Proper Fitting of the Hip Brace
We recommend that you wear the hip brace for 10 days while you are standing or walking. When you get up from a resting position, place it securely around your waist and thigh. You may begin moving about once the hip brace is in place. The brace is set to limit hip flexion up to 90°. A detailed video available above serves as a guide for proper fitting and use of the Hip Brace following hip arthroscopy surgery.
