UW HEALTH SPORTS REHABILITATION Rehabilitation Guidelines for Surgical Hip Dislocation The hip joint is composed of the femur (the thigh bone) and the Lunate surface of acetabulum acetabulum (the socket which is Articular cartilage from the three pelvic bones). The Anterior superior iliac spine hip joint is a ball and socket joint Head of femur Anterior inferior iliac spine that not only allows flexion and Iliopubic eminence extension, but also rotation of the Acetabular labrum thigh and leg (Figure 1). The head Greater trochanter (fibrocartilainous) of the femur is encased by the bony Fat in acetabular fossa socket in addition to a strong, non- (covered by synovial) Neck of femur compliant joint capsule, making Obturator artery the hip an extremely stable joint. Anterior branch of Because the hip is responsible for Intertrochanteric line obturator artery transmitting the weight of the upper Posterior branch of obturator artery body to the lower extremities and Obturator membrane the forces of weight bearing from Ischial tuberosity the foot back up through the pelvis, Round ligament Acetabular artery the joint is subjected to substantial (ligamentum capitis) Lesser trochanter Transverse acetabular ligament forces. Walking transmits 1.3 to 5.8 times body weight through the Figure 1 Hip joint (opened) lateral view joint, and running and jumping can generate forces across the joint equal to 6 to 8 times body weight. Both the head of the femur and the bony acetabulum are covered with articular cartilage to aide in absorbing weightbearing forces through the joint (the gray material in Figure 1). The acetabular labrum is a circular, fibrocartilaginous structure that surrounds the socket. It functions to seal the joint enhance stability, and provide proprioceptive feedback (a sense of joint position) to the brain and central nervous system. The labrum acts as a suction seal or gasket for the hip joint. This helps Figure 2: Frog leg radiograph: The thin arrow on your left indicates the area of “flattening” of the to maintain the hydrostatic pressure right femoral head and lack of the normal femoral head-neck offset. The thick arrow on the right that protects the articular cartilage indicates the more normal, rounded contour of the left femoral head. The world class health care team for the UW Badgers and proud sponsor of UW Athletics UWSPORTSMEDICINE.ORG 621 SCIENCE DRIVE • MADISON, WI 53711 ■ 4602 EASTPARK BLVD. • MADISON, WI 53718 Rehabilitation Guidelines for Surgical Hip Dislocation Figure 3: A defect in the subchondral bone Figure 4: A harvest bone plug with overlying Figure 5: The plug has been brought even with was too large for microfracture so it was articular cartilage fit into the cartilage defect the rest of the articular surface reshaped allowing a bone plug to be placed on the head of the femur and the using long arthroscopic instruments The surgical hip dislocation involves acetabulum. inserted in to the hip. This includes separating a piece of bone from the labral tearing where some of the greater trochanter (the upper part of Hip joints of athletes are exposed labrum has been absorbed or broken the thigh bone) which is referred to to extremes of motion. These forces off so there is not enough tissue for as a greater trochanteric osteotomy are absorbed by and can injure the a repair. These patients may need a (figure 8). By using this approach, the labrum by impingement of the hip. labral reconstruction that is best done surgeon can safely dislocate the hip This is referred to as femoroacetabular if the hip is surgically dislocated first. while protecting its blood supply and Impingement (FAI). FAI can occur preserving key muscle attachments from changes in the shape of the When the defect in the articular around the joint. The surgeon is then acetabulum or the femoral head and cartilage, or osteochondral lesions, able to fully visualize and correct neck. FAI due to “over-coverage” are too large to expect that a abnormalities of bone and soft tissues of the acetabulum is referred to as microfracture would be helpful about the hip joint. Before closing the pincer impingement. FAI due to a (Figure 3). These patients may need incision, the separated bone fragment lack of the normal femoral head- an osteochondral allograft or autograft is reattached with screws to maintain neck off-set, or “lack of femoral head transplantation to sufficiently address alignment and stability as healing roundness”, is referred to as cam the defect (Figures 4 and 5). This is occurs. (Figure 8) impingement. Figure 2 demonstrates essentially a small piece of bone with the boney abnormality associated attached cartilage harvested to fill a Part of determining if a patient with cam impingement of the right specific defect. This group of patients might benefit from a procedure that hip; note the difference in the shape would also be best addressed with a involved surgical hip dislocation of the femoral head. Often cam and surgical hip dislocation. involves imaging. Radiographs pincer impingement can co-exist. (x-rays) give a good initial view of If a person has anatomical changes When the normal convex on concave bony alignment and help diagnose of the femoral head and neck (ball (or ball and socket) geometry is the hip dysplasia. Magnetic resonance part of the joint) or the acetabulum lost, impingement may occur as the imaging (MRI) shows the soft tissue (socket part of the joint) making a hip hip is flexed toward its end range. such as the labrum or cartilage that arthroscopy too challenging or not Repetitive impingement can cause covers the bony surfaces of the allowing room to make appropriate labral tears and delamination of the hip joint. A hip CT scan provides surgical corrections, the hip will need acetabular articular cartilage. excellent 3-dimensional anatomy to be dislocated to do the operation. of the pelvis and femur for surgical Some patients have complicating Examples of this would be protrusio planning and a better understanding factors and other problems of the acetabuli (Figure 6), coxa profunda of hip joint mechanics. hip that cannot be adequately (a deep socket) or a retroverted addressed by hip arthroscopy, which acetabulum (a socket turned Your surgeon may recommend is performed through small portals somewhat backward). anesthetic or corticosteroid injections 2 UWSPORTSMEDICINE.ORG 621 SCIENCE DRIVE • MADISON, WI 53711 ■ 4602 EASTPARK BLVD. • MADISON, WI 53718 Rehabilitation Guidelines for Surgical Hip Dislocation Figure 6: Protrusio acetabuli makes the socket Figure 7: Typical hip joint appropriate for Figure 8: Coxa profunda is another example of so deep that it would be too difficult to do arthroscopic management a socket that is too deep for hip arthroscopy anything arthroscopically due to the reduced space to maneuver surgical instruments have post-operative hip and thigh for all walking. Patients should to identify and treat pain which pain and numbness of the groin, avoid prolonged sitting or lying can help determine if surgery could thigh and/or pelvis near and around on the operative side for the first be helpful. Physical therapy with incision. These symptoms usually 4-6 weeks. a provider who is experienced in resolve over time. treating hip conditions is usually 4. There are precautions that need recommended as this can help Basic Rehabilitation Principals: to be followed to reduce chances patients avoid surgery or at least 1. Post-operative recovery begins of dislocation of the hip during strengthen their hip and core muscles with preoperative rehabilitation. the early recovery phase. No hip to make the post-surgical recovery a Preoperative hip and core rotation or excessively turning little bit easier. strengthening, review of gait toes either outwards or inwards by rotating the entire leg. Hip Following surgery, a patient spends training with assistive device flexion needs to be limited to 75° 2-3 days in the hospital. They will and discussion of post-operative for the first 4 weeks, then can be learn to walk with crutches or a equipment needs such as an 90° until 6 weeks out. walker, usually the second day after elevated toilet seat, wheelchair surgery, with reduced weight bearing and long handled reachers will 5. Additional precautions need to on the leg until the newly positioned be discussed. be followed due to the greater socket heals. They will have to 2. A continuous passive motion trochanteric osteotomy: no maintain this partial weight bearing (CPM) machine will be issued active abduction for 6 weeks, no status for about six weeks. at the preoperative workup passive adduction past midline for 6 weeks. Post-operatively the patient will begin appointment, taken home and outpatient physical therapy at about used with settings of 0° extension 6. Many patients will be able to three weeks and eventually be able to and 30° flexion for 8 hours return to an active lifestyle after return to full weight bearing, walking per day or until the first post- surgical hip dislocation, but the without crutches and even athletics. operative appointment at 2-3 presence of mild arthritic changes Physical therapy will help strengthen weeks. After the first week, the would indicate that safer activities the muscles around the hip and flexion range of motion (ROM) after the procedure include biking pelvis, restore range of motion of the can be increased gradually to 90° and swimming. For those patients hip joint and integrate the hip into a if patient is pain-free. without arthritic changes return to patient’s overall daily function. 3. Patients will be limited in impact activities such as running is guided in a criterion-based The rehabilitation guidelines are weightbearing for the first 6 fashion by the rehab provider presented in a criterion-based weeks, no more than 30% of and physician.