REHABILITATION POST PERI-ACETABULAR OSTEOTOMY

1. Introductions and aims of guideline

Please note that this is advisory information only. Your experiences may differ from those described. All exercises must be demonstrated to a patient by a fully qualified physiotherapist. We cannot be held liable for the outcome of you undertaking any of the exercises shown here independently of direct supervision from Integrum Physiotherapy.

We recognise that DDH patients make up a broad and often complex patient group and therefore needs an individualised rehabilitation approach. Our emphasis is on patient-specific rehabilitation, which encourages recognition of those patients who may progress slower than others. These rehabilitation guidelines are therefore ‘milestone driven’ and designed to provide an equitable rehabilitation service to all our patients. They will also limit unnecessary visits to the outpatient clinic by helping the patient and therapist to identify when specialist review is required.

These guidelines have been written to help aid Physiotherapists who are treating post-operative Peri-acetabular osteotomy patients and also guide patients on what the rehabilitation will involve.

2. Body of guideline

Indications for Surgery

The main indication for a peri-acetabular osteotomy is developmental dysplasia of the hip, where the acetabulum is too shallow and does not provide adequate coverage for the femoral head.

Possible Complications

· Wound healing/infection

· Blood loss-requiring transfusion

· DVT/PE

· Delayed union or non-union

· Loosening of fixation

· Leg length discrepancy

· Rarely-neuropraxia/nerve damage

Surgical Techniques

A peri-acetabular osteotomy is performed around the affected acetabulum. The acetabulum is re-orientated to provide greater coverage for the femoral head. It is secured in place with two-three threaded pins until bony healing occurs.

Expected Outcome

· Functional outcome is heavily dependent upon the pre-operative condition of the hip joint.

· Pre-existing damage and arthritis of the hip can have a significant negative affect upon functional outcome.

· Post-operative rehabilitation is vital to ensure optimum functional outcome.

· May take 6 months- 1 year to achieve optimal function.

· ROM at hip back to pre-operative level.

· Mobilises independently mobile, with no aids.

The pins can remain in place but may be removed after approximately 1 year.
Correction of the deformity.

Main muscles affected:

· Hip flexors

· Obliques

· Abdominals

· Hip abductors due to pain inhibition

· Can see hypertrophy of TFL

· Quadriceps

Pre-operatively

The patient may be seen pre-operatively, and with consent, the following can be assessed:

Current functional levels
General Health
Social / Work / Hobbies
Functional range of movement
Balance / Proprioception
Gait / mobility, including walking aids, orthoses
Multidisciplinary approach
Post-operative expectations, commitment to exercises and maintaining protocol.
Patient information leaflet issued
Post-operative management explained

Post-operatively

Always check the operation notes, and the post-operative instructions. Discuss any deviation from routine guidelines with the team concerned.

INITIAL REHABILITATION PHASE: In-patient Stay (Usually 4-6 days)

Goals

Protect Osteotomy, screw fixation and acetabular position and maintain 20kg partial weight-bearing.
To be safely and independently mobile with appropriate walking aid/s, adhering to 20kg partial weight bearing status.
To be independent with home exercise programme and understand all precautions/restrictions.
To understand self-management / monitoring.
Maintaining ankle and knee range of movement and increasing hip range of movement in closed chain exercises-adhering to weight-bearing status (eg using sliders)
Control inflammation and swelling.
Minimise effects of restricted weight-bearing and immobilisation.

Restrictions

If sedentary employment, may be able to return to work from 6 weeks post-operatively, as long as radiographs are satisfactory and no complications.
Children may be able to return to school if adaptations are made possible with classrooms and mobility.
No straight leg raise for 6 weeks post operatively due to the shearing forces through the pelvis.

Treatment

Pain-relief: Ensure adequate analgesia.
Advice / Education: Teach how to monitor sensation, colour, circulation, temperature, swelling, and advise on scar tissue expectations and advise what to do if concerned. Teach protection, rest, and elevation.

· Swelling management - After PAO, there is a variable amount of pain and swelling, often depending on how much surgery was done. This usually diminishes after several weeks. It is helpful to keep the leg elevated above your heart and to apply ice regularly.

Exercises:

Active range of movement exercises for the hip.

Closed chain hip flexion (heel slides NO straight leg raise), supine hip abduction/adduction, standing sliders hip abduction and extension adhering to 20kg WB.

Gait re-education: Ensure safely and independently 20kg partial flat foot weight-bearing with walking aids.

· Knee/hip and ankle range of movement exercises

· Strengthening- Maintain hip range of movement within restrictions. Commence isometric glutes, inner range quads (avoid LRQ’s for 2-3 weeks due to activation of rec fem), closed chain standing slider exercises into flexion/ext/abd maintain 20kg weight-bearing.

· Pacing adviceas appropriate.

Mobility: Ensure patient is independent with transfers and mobility, including stairs if necessary.

On discharge from the ward

Independent and safe mobilising with appropriate walking aid/s, including safety on stairs if appropriate.
Independent and safe with home exercise programme.
Maintaining hip/knee and ankle range of movement.
Independent with swelling management
Ongoing out-patient physiotherapy arranged for within 2 weeks post op

Initial rehabilitation phase post discharge from hospital-6 week review.

Goals

Maintain hip/knee and ankle range within restrictions.
Regain muscle strength without use of resistance and ensure correct muscle patterning- watch for dominance of TFL and glute med insufficiency.
Pain controlled.
Ensure maintain 20kg partial weight-bearing flat foot.

Restrictions

If sedentary employment, may be able to return to work from 2-4 weeks post-operatively, as long as provisions are made to elevate leg, and no complications.
Driving: unable to drive whilst weight-bearing status restricted.
Maintain partial weight-bearing status
No straight leg raise until after 6 week review.

Complications:

· Wound infection.

· Nerve damage.

· DVT

· PE

· Non-union-rotation of osteotomy back to original position.

Treatment Options

Pain Relief: Ensure adequate analgesia
Advice / Education: Comprehensive education and instruction on restrictions and on carrying out activities of daily living to manage pain and swelling
Posture advice / education.
Swelling management-.
Gait re-education.
Mobility: Ensure safely and independently mobile with walking aid/s

Exercises:

Example exercises

· Prone lying may be commenced from 2 weeks post operatively to encourage small stretch of anterior capsule and hip flexors.

· Trans abs activation to encourage improved core stability.

· Commence bent knee fall out once patient can activate trans abs.

· Can add exercise bike after 2 weeks with no resistance starting at 30-70 hip flexion, progressing to 0-70 degrees as tolerated, by week 4 able to do 20 mins.

Strengthening-Example exs

· Isometric glutes

· Can add long range quadriceps from 3 weeks post op.

· Closed chain standing slider exercises into flexion/ext/abd maintain 20kg weight-bearing.

Hydrotherapy if appropriate (available), once wounds healed. Start at above chest height (equivalent to 20kg weight-bearing) walking in water, mini squats, heel raises, assisted hip flexion with float, pendulum with knees bent facing wall- to encourage stretching of obliques.
Pacing advice as appropriate.

Main Issues:

· Pain

· Swelling

· Non-union

· Potential Hypertrophy of TFL

· If there is persistent fever, a sudden increase in pain or swelling, wound redness or oozing, heat around incision site, increasing numbness, calf pain/swelling, or shortness of breath the patient should be reviewed urgently by the medical team.

Milestones to progress to next phase

· At the first outpatient review the assessment will focus wound healing and evidence of bony healing at the osteotomy sites. Once radiographic evidence of bony union has been observed then the weight-bearing status can gradually be increased over the next 6 week period.

· No or minimal hip pain.

6-12 WEEKS POST-OPERATIVE REHABILITATION PHASE:

Goals

· Return to full weight bearing as per consultant guidelines.

· Commence loading programme

Restrictions

Ensure patient follows Consultant’s instructions on weight bearing status week by week, if no complications and good consolidation then increase to 50% for 2 weeks, 75% for 2 weeks and then full weight bearing for 2 weeks//Wean crutches as appropriate.
Ensure Gluteus medius activating and patient not compensating with Tensor Fascia Lata on muscle patterning (such as side lying abd).
No treadmill use until after 8 weeks
No ballistic or forced stretching.

Treatment

Pain Relief: Ensure adequate analgesia
Advice / Education: Comprehensive education and instruction on restrictions and on carrying out activities of daily living to manage pain and swelling.
Posture advice / education.
Swelling management.
Mobility: Ensure safely and independently mobile and wean from walking aid (if applicable).
Exercises

Example exercises: Cycling, Cross trainer, commence double leg loading as able, isometric glute med with belt- bridging and sit to stand.

· Alter-G treadmill (If available) –especially relevant at 25%-75% weight bearing as can start normalisation of loading tissues and bone at weight bearing status.

Balance / Proprioception-as per weight bearing status, early proprioceptive work will encourage recruitment of deep stability system.
Strengtheningof muscles stabilising the knee, hip and ankle.

Ø Strengthening of other muscle groups as appropriate.

Core stability and gluteal control work

Stretches– maintain stretches as appropriate to ensure normal flexibility of hip flexors, obliques, quadriceps, hamstrings and calf muscles in weight bearing position.

Review lower limb biomechanics and kinetic chain, addressing issues as appropriate.
Biofeedbackmay be used if altered sequencing of muscles.
Manual therapy:
- Soft tissue techniques as appropriate.
- Joint mobilisations as appropriate.

Hydrotherapy (if available)- especially relevant at 25%-75% weight bearing as can start normalisation of loading tissues and bone at weight bearing status.

Pacing adviceas appropriate.

Milestones to progress to next phase

· Healing evident on x-rays (superior pubic ramus, ilium & ischium).

· Full, pain-free hip ROM

· No evidence of hip flexor inflammation

· Good muscle patterning and recruitment of glute med with minimal TFL dominance.

· Pain free gait with correct patterning with/without aids.

· Hip flexion strength >70% of non-operated side.

· Hip add, abd, ext, IR, ER strength >80% of non-operated side.

12 WEEKS-6 MONTHS POST-OPERATIVE REHABILITATION PHASE:

Goals

• Full pain-free ROM

• Increase loading of bilateral exercises in gym

• Increase volume of single leg loading

• Commence gentle running drills and plyometrics if comfortable from week 15-20.

· Return to normal function- ADL’s, return to work, driving, school etc.

· Advice and Education- on return to sport (expected from around 6 months post op) and normal function.

· Mobility- Independently mobile.

· Exercises: Can commence open chain work as long as correct muscle patterning occurring (monitor for TFL overload/hypertrophy). Progress to impact/plyometric based exercise when ready.

· Progress swimming as comfort allows

· Commence jogging and progress running distance

· Initiate sport-specific drills as appropriate

· Gradual return to sports participation

· Maintenance program for global strength and endurance

Milestones for discharge

Good proprioceptive control dynamically with correct muscle patterning.
Return to normal functional level.
Achieved patient goals.

Failure to meet milestones

Refer back to team / Discuss with team.
Continue with outpatient physiotherapy if still progressing and appropriate goals.

Failure to progress

If a patient is failing to progress, then consider the following:

3. Monitoring and the effectiveness of this guideline

POSSIBLE PROBLEM/ACTION

Swelling

Ensure elevating leg regularly.

Use ice as appropriate if normal skin sensation and no contraindications.

Pacing advice

Use walking aids.

Circulatory exercises.

Modify exercise programme as appropriate.

If does not decrease over a few days, refer back to surgical team

Pain

Decrease activity.

Ensure adequate analgesia.

Elevate regularly.

Pacing discussion and modify exercise programme as appropriate. Should continue isometric work at all times.

If persists, refer back to surgical team.

Breakdown of wound e.g. inflammation, bleeding, infection

Refer to surgical/CNS team.

Deformity

Alert surgical team immediately

Summary of evidence for physiotherapy guidelines

A comprehensive literature search was carried out to identify research relating to rehabilitation following Peri-acetabular Osteotomy.

References:

· Adler, K.L. et al (2015) ‘Current Concepts in Hip Preservation Surgery: Part II—Rehabilitation,’ Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach, 8(1), pp.57-64.

· Abbas, C., and Daher, J. (2017) ‘Pilot study: Post-operative rehabilitation pathway changes and implementation of functional closed kinetic chain exercise in total hipand total knee replacement patient,’ Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 21(4), pp.823-829.

· Belavy, D.L., Bock, O., Borst, H., et al, (2010) ‘The second Berlin Bedrest study: protocol and implementation,’ Journal of Musculoskeletal Neuronal Interaction, 10 (3), pp. 207-219.

· Clohisy, J.C., Schutz, A.L., St.John, L., et al, (2009) ‘Periacetabular Osteotomy: A systematic Literature Review,’ Clinical Orthopaedics and related research, 467(8), pp. 2041-2052.

· Davy DT, Kotzar GM, Brown RH, et al. Telemetric force measurements across the hip and after total arthroplasty. J Bone Joint Surg. 1988; 70A:45–50.

· Ito, H., Tanino, H., Sato, T., et al, (2014) ‘Early Weight-bearing after periacetabular osteotomy leads to a high incidence of postoperative pelvic fractures,’ BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 15:234, pp.

· Meftah, M., Ranawat, A.S., Ranawat, A.S., Caughran, A.T. (2018) ‘Total Hip Replacement Rehabilitation: Progression and Restrictions,’ in Clinical Orthopaedic Rehabilitation, Philadelphia:Elsevier, pp.436-442.

· Schmitz, R.J., Riemann, B.L., and Thompson, T. (2002) ‘Gluteus Medius activity during isometric closed-chain hip rotation,’ Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, 11(3), pp. 179-188.

· Trundelle-Jackson, E., and Smith, S. (2004) ‘Effects of a Late-Phase Exercise Program After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial,’ Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 85, pp. 1056-1062.

· Yang, J., Zhang, Z., and Cheng, H. et al, (2018) ‘Sciatic and femoral nerve injury among patients who received Bernese peri-acetabular osteotomy,’ International Orthopaedics, pp.1-5.

Hip Dysplasia Physio

Knowledge | Understanding | Rehabilitation

REHABILITATION POST PERI-ACETABULAR OSTEOTOMY

1. Introductions and aims of guideline

2. Body of guideline

3. Monitoring and the effectiveness of this guideline