A 73 year old client had a hemiarthroplasty to the left hip yesterday due to a fracture resulting in a fall. What nursing interventions could help?

A 73 year old client had a hemiarthroplasty to the left hip yesterday due to a fracture resulting in a fall. What nursing interventions could help?

• A. Place a pillow between your legs to prevent hip dislocation
• B. Keep your legs extended and together
• C. Avoid turning on the operative side
• D. Avoid bending the knee of the operated leg

Answer: (A)

The key idea is preventing hip dislocation after a hip hemiarthroplasty. The hip is most at risk when the leg is adducted, rotated internally, or flexed too much. Placing a pillow between the legs keeps the operated leg abducted and helps maintain neutral alignment during rest and when repositioning, which directly reduces the chance of dislocation. Keeping the legs extended and together would promote adduction and close contact between the knees, increasing dislocation risk. Avoiding turning to the operative side is sometimes advised, but the abduction strategy specifically protects the joint by keeping it away from positions that could dislocate it. Avoiding bending the knee of the operated leg isn’t the primary protective measure for preventing dislocation, since the risk relates more to hip position than knee flexion alone. Follow the abduction and positioning plan prescribed, and use other precautions (like not crossing the legs and not adducting the operated hip) to support healing.

The key idea is preventing hip dislocation after a hip hemiarthroplasty. The hip is most at risk when the leg is adducted, rotated internally, or flexed too much. Placing a pillow between the legs keeps the operated leg abducted and helps maintain neutral alignment during rest and when repositioning, which directly reduces the chance of dislocation.

Keeping the legs extended and together would promote adduction and close contact between the knees, increasing dislocation risk. Avoiding turning to the operative side is sometimes advised, but the abduction strategy specifically protects the joint by keeping it away from positions that could dislocate it. Avoiding bending the knee of the operated leg isn’t the primary protective measure for preventing dislocation, since the risk relates more to hip position than knee flexion alone.

Follow the abduction and positioning plan prescribed, and use other precautions (like not crossing the legs and not adducting the operated hip) to support healing.