What is Prosthetic Hip Dislocation

Prosthetic hip dislocation means that your artificial hip joint (prosthesis) has moved out of place. This can happen because of a hard, direct hit or injury (trauma) to the hip, such as a fall.

A prosthetic hip joint may be more likely to dislocate than a normal hip joint because a prosthetic hip joint does not have all the structures that normally hold the joint in place.

After the prosthetic hip is moved back into place, you will generally recover fully. Prosthetic hip dislocation is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.

What are the causes?

This condition is often caused by trauma to the hip. Trauma may be caused by:

• Falls, especially falls from a height.
• Motor vehicle accidents.
• Contact sports.
• Industrial accidents.

What increases the risk?

This condition is more likely to develop in:

• People over 60 years of age.
• People with bone loss (osteoporosis).
• People who lack vitamin D.
• People who are overweight or obese.
• People who lack hip strength and flexibility.
• People with poor vision.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of this condition include:

• Severe pain in the hip area. Pain may get worse when you move or try to put weight on the hip.
• Inability to move the hip.
• The leg on the side of the dislocated hip appearing shorter than the other leg.
• The foot on the side of the dislocated hip turning inward.
• Loss of feeling in your lower leg, foot, or ankle.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed based on a physical exam and your medical history. You may be examined by a health care provider who specializes in bone disorders (orthopedist). You may have tests, including:

• X-rays to check for breaks (fractures) in your thigh bone (femur) or hip bone (pelvis).
• CT scan to check for damage to other tissues near the joint.
• Blood tests.

How is this treated?

This condition is treated by moving your prosthetic hip joint and femur back into place (closed reduction). A closed reduction is not a surgery. It is done without cutting your skin open. During a closed reduction, a health care provider uses pressure and rotation to put bones back into place. You will be given medicines to help relieve pain.

After a closed reduction, you may have X-rays to make sure that:

• The prosthetic hip joint is securely in the hip socket.
• There are no breaks or pieces of bone in the joint.

If your prosthetic hip dislocation was severe, you may be given a splint or brace to wear. You may also be given crutches to use until you feel better. Surgery is sometimes needed if dislocation occurs more than once.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Do not drive or operate heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.

Activity

• Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.
• Avoid intense physical activity until you feel better. Stop doing an activity if it causes pain or discomfort.
• Do not lie on your hip until your health care provider says that you can do this.
• Perform range-of-motion exercises only as told by your health care provider.

General instructions

• If directed, apply ice to the injured area:
  • Put ice in a plastic bag.
  • Place a towel between your skin and the bag.
  • Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.
• Do not use any tobacco products, such as cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and e-cigarettes. Tobacco can delay bone healing. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
• Use crutches as told by your health care provider.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

If you have a splint or brace:

• Wear the splint or brace as told by your health care provider. Remove it only as told by your health care provider.
• Loosen the splint or brace if your toes tingle, become numb, or turn cold and blue.
• Keep the splint or brace clean and dry.

How is this prevented?

• Avoid crossing your legs. Try to keep your knees apart when getting in and out of your car.
• Do not lean forward beyond 90 degrees or raise your knee higher than the level of your hip.
• Do not sit in low chairs. Add extra cushions to increase the height of your chairs or couch.
• Do not pivot. Pivoting is when you turn your hips without moving your feet off the ground. Take short steps when you turn.

Contact a health care provider if:

• It is not getting easier to walk or move.
• You have swelling or tenderness in your leg.
• You have numbness or tingling in any part of your hip or leg.
• You have pain or swelling that gets worse or does not get better with medicine.

Get help right away if:

• Your hip dislocates again.
• You have severe pain.
• Your leg or foot turns blue or feels unusually cold.
• You have difficulty breathing.

If you have symptoms of a hip dislocation, do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away. Get medical help right away. Call your local emergency services (911 in the U.S.). Do not drive yourself to the hospital.