Does incision placement in a hip replacement affect the positioning precautions?

• A. No, incision placement does not affect them
• B. Yes, incision placement changes them
• C. It only affects preoperative planning
• D. It changes only hip abduction limits

Answer: (B)

Positioning precautions after a hip replacement depend on the surgical approach, which is indicated by where the incision is placed. The incision tells the surgeon which tissues were opened and how the joint capsule was handled; this directly affects how the joint is most at risk for dislocation during healing. Different approaches stabilize the joint in different ways, so the movements that must be avoided—and for how long—change with the incision location. For example, a posterior approach (common for hip implants) carries higher risk with hip flexion, adduction, and internal rotation, so those positions are restricted postoperatively. An anterior approach carries a different set of restrictions, typically focusing on avoiding certain extensions and rotations. Because of this, where the incision is made does influence the positioning precautions, making the answer that incision placement changes them the best choice.