Postoperative Care
The hip is a deep joint, and mechanical deterioration can occur early in life due to risk factors such as sports activities (combat sports, team sports, dance), trauma, or as a result of childhood conditions, sometimes congenital.
Immediate Postoperative Care
A few hours after the surgery, patients are able to take their first steps with the assistance of a physical therapist at the clinic. Initially, the use of two crutches is necessary to stabilize walking and prevent balance issues.
The anesthesiologist routinely prescribes pain medications for two weeks along with anti-inflammatories. Injections of anticoagulants are necessary for a few days to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis. Lastly, the use of ice packs can help limit postoperative bruising. Rehabilitation with a local physical therapist should be gentle in the beginning. It focuses on addressing surgical pain, performing drainage and massages to treat typical swelling and bruises. Joint and muscle maintenance should always respect the pain threshold. Rehabilitation should, therefore, support the natural recovery of the operated hip.
Healing
Tissue healing typically takes about 3 months. However, returning to sports activities takes longer. Based on our experience and scientific publications, a return to competitive sports is not advisable until 4 to 6 months after the surgery. Symptoms will gradually improve during this period, which may require short courses of anti-inflammatories for support.