Musculoskeletal SystemDifficulty 2/5
Six weeks after a posterior-approach total hip arthroplasty, a patient wants to retrieve an object from the floor. Which instruction respects the precautions?
- AUse a reacher, keeping hip flexion under 90 degrees and avoiding adduction
- BSit and cross the operated leg over the other to lower the trunk
- CBend forward at the waist while internally rotating the operated hip
- DSquat with both hips flexed past 90 degrees keeping the trunk upright
Show answer and rationale
Correct: A. Posterior precautions prohibit hip flexion beyond 90 degrees, adduction past midline and internal rotation. A reacher preserves all three; each other option violates at least one.
- D — Squatting past 90 degrees of hip flexion breaches the flexion precaution.
- B — Crossing the leg adducts and internally rotates the operated hip.
- C — Forward bending with internal rotation combines two prohibited motions.