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

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

• 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. Cross your legs

Answer: (A)

Maintaining hip abduction after a hip hemiarthroplasty is essential to prevent dislocation. The artificial joint is most at risk when the leg adducts or rotates inward, so keeping the legs separated helps preserve neutral alignment of the prosthesis. Placing a pillow between the knees (or legs) helps maintain this abduction and prevents crossing the legs or bringing the knees together, which could push the femoral component out of place. While other precautions like avoiding rolling onto the operative side are important, the pillow between the legs directly supports the position that minimizes dislocation risk in the immediate postoperative period.

Maintaining hip abduction after a hip hemiarthroplasty is essential to prevent dislocation. The artificial joint is most at risk when the leg adducts or rotates inward, so keeping the legs separated helps preserve neutral alignment of the prosthesis. Placing a pillow between the knees (or legs) helps maintain this abduction and prevents crossing the legs or bringing the knees together, which could push the femoral component out of place. While other precautions like avoiding rolling onto the operative side are important, the pillow between the legs directly supports the position that minimizes dislocation risk in the immediate postoperative period.