What happens if you fall after a hip replacement?

Why falling after a hip replacement can be a concern

No-one really wants to fall over, but it’s particularly dangerous for people who have recently had a hip or knee replacement. Hip replacements are typically made of a combination of titanium, ceramic, and plastic. But while modern materials used in hip prosthesis are strong, they can still be damaged. For example, a fall can loosen the artificial joint in the patient’s femur (the long bone that leads to the ball and socket joint in the hip).

Falling after a hip replacement can result in:

• dislocation
• fracture
• loosening of the artificial hip.

Causes and risk factors

Some of the most common causes of falling after a hip replacement are:

• muscle weakness or loss – the recovery from surgery can lead to muscle wastage, as your mobility is initially restricted
• medication – continuing to take certain medication can lead to dizziness and disorientation. Speak to your doctor about your medical conditions, what you can and continue to take, and what should be avoided
• living alone – while living alone might not stop you from falling over, having someone else around to help you back up may reduce any lasting damage
• labral tear – falling can cause a tear in the seal of the ball and socket joint of the hip. This can cause a lack of stability and increase the risk of falling again.

Potential hip injuries after a fall and their complications

While we don’t advocate self-diagnosis and encourage you to see a doctor if you have suffered a fall, below are the most common injuries that can occur.

• dislocated hip – this is when the ball separates from the socket and requires immediate medical attention
• hip fracture – this can occur in the femur, typically as a hairline or stress fracture of the femoral head (the ball that fits into the hip socket). This type of injury can lead to long term hip problems
• muscle strain – occurs when the muscle fibres suddenly stretch beyond their limit and tear
• soft tissue injury – includes sprains and tears to the muscles and tissue surrounding the hip joint.

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Did you know?

More than 40% of older adults suffered a fall in the 12 months following their hip replacement surgery.¹

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What to do if you fall after a hip replacement

Everyone has a fall at some point in their lives. A gradual loss of mobility and balance are an unfortunate by-product of getting older. But what should you do if you suffer a fall while recovering from a hip replacement? We break it down, stage-by-stage.

Immediately after

If you suspect you’ve suffered serious damage to your hip, you should seek medical attention immediately. If you’re taken to hospital, doctors will likely assess the blood flow and nerves in your affected leg.

The first few days and weeks

This will depend on how severe the damage is and the condition you’re in. If you’re able to move around, you should work on gently strengthening the muscles around your affected hip and in your leg. Your doctor should be able to provide a rehabilitation plan tailored to your specific needs.

Long-term

In the long term, you will likely need to spend a lot of time strengthening the area around your affected hip. This may involve a course of physiotherapy similar to that of your original post-surgery recovery process. Exercises after a hip replacement such as walking, swimming, and cycling are especially effective as they’re non-weight bearing while increasing your fitness levels.

Signs and symptoms that you need medical attention

If you have suffered a fall on your new hip, the following are signs you need medical attention:

• tingling or loss of feeling in your affect hip or leg
• inability to bear weight on the affected leg
• unable to walk or get back up.²

How to prevent falls after hip replacement surgery

Recovering from hip replacement surgery can be a long and tricky thing to do. And doing anything to jeopardise the progress you’re making is likely going to be somewhere near the bottom of your priority list. To minimise the risk of falls, here are a few preventative measures you can take:

• remove trip hazards from around your home: these can be loose rugs, chairs, or table legs. We don’t mean throw them out completely but taking them away from the areas you regularly move around in is a good idea
• move your bed downstairs: or have a stair lift installed. This will remove the need to use the stairs (unless you live in a bungalow)
• strengthen the muscles around the affected hip: this will help stabilise you. You should make every effort to attend your post-surgery physio sessions and complete the exercises given to you. When you’re ready, taking up certain activities is a great idea to help strengthen your muscles. Golf, walking, and cycling after a hip replacement are great activities to start doing. For the more green-fingered among us, gardening after a hip replacement is also a good idea.

How to treat hip pain from a fall

If the worst does happen and you take a fall, here are some treatment options you can do yourself:

• take painkillers
• use the RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)
• rest
• apply heat patches to the affected area after a few days
• physiotherapy.

In extreme circumstances, a doctor may recommend hip revision surgery if the damage is severe.

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Sources and references

¹ https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/article/76/10/1814/5979449

² https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hip-pain/#:~:text=Immediate%20action%20required%3A%20Call%20999,or%20leg%20after%20an%20injury

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