How do braces for hip replacements help keep them from popping out of place?!


Question:

How do braces for hip replacements help keep them from popping out of place?

I know someone with a hip replacement and I just picked her up from the ER again because her hip popped out of place... again. Her doctor informed me that this has been occurring because she refuses to wear either of the two braces that she's been advised to wear to keep this from happening. I asked her why and she insists that the brace she's been given is worn around her ankle and can't possibly have anything to do with her hip and therefore can't possibly work. She has another brace that velcros on over her whole leg, but she says it's too difficult to wear all of the time. I'm concerned that if I don't convince her to listen to her doctor that she'll fall and hurt herself much worse than just a hip out of place. I don't know enough about this to explain it to her, can someone educate me?


Answers:

Occasionally patients develop repetitive dislocations, requiring a brace to be worn for several months to prevent further dislocation. Sometimes further corrective surgery is needed to solve the problem. There are many ways to fix a dislocated hip. Usually, the first time a dislocation occurs the hip is put into a cast or brace. But repeated dislocations usually need to be fixed with surgery.
This is an example of one type of brace that might be used.
http://www.recoverybraces.com/donjoy/hip...
If her doctor can't convince her to follow instructions, I don't know who could. Does she fully understand the implications of repeated dislocation? How many times has she dislocated? Is further surgery needed to correct the problem? If her hip replacement surgery is recent, is she adhering to the restrictions and precautions that, if followed, will greatly reduce the chances of dislocation while her hip is healing? Is this a situation where a close family member or friend needs to accompany her to her surgeon appointments so hear what he has to say?




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