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Final Program


Final Program

Musculoskeletal

1037 - Painless Hip Dislocations After Hemipelvectomy and Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA)

Friday, February 20, 2026
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM AST

    Presenting Author(s)

  • SC

    Shravya Chanamolu, BS

    Medical Student
    Michigan State University College of Medicine
    Northville, Michigan, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • TW

    Tiffany Wood, DO

    Resident Physician
    University of Michigan PM&R
    Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

  • JJ

    John Jung, MD

    Resident
    University of Michigan
    Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

  • EC

    Edward Claflin, MD

    Associate Professsor
    Michigan Medicine
    Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

    • Submitter(s)

  • SC

    Shravya Chanamolu, BS

    Michigan State University College of Medicine
    Northville, Michigan, United States

Case Diagnosis: Hemipelvectomy and Total Hip Arthroplasty due to Chondrosarcoma

Case Description: A 59-year-old male with left hemipelvis chondrosarcoma underwent resection via internal hemipelvectomy and THA, as well as reconstruction with external oblique advancement and tensor fascia latae myocutaneous flap. This patient was admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation (IPR) facility with the following restrictions: toe-touch weight bearing (TTWB) and no more than 30° hip flexion on the left lower extremity. Pelvic xray prior to Orthopedic follow-up while he was still at IPR revealed a left hip dislocation despite not having symptoms. This patient’s rehabilitation was interrupted for transfer to the acute care hospital for a closed reduction; he returned to IPR the same day. The patient remained asymptomatic throughout his IPR stay and requested another pelvic xray prior to discharge, which revealed a new left hip dislocation. Orthopedics recommended outpatient follow-up and ultimately revised the THA via conversion to constrained acetabular liner.

Discussions:

Hip dislocations are well-known complications of THAs, however, they usually present with acute pain and are most likely secondary to non-adherence to hip precautions. This patient didn’t have pain and complied with orthopedic surgery’s weight-bearing and hip precaution instructions while in IPR. He progressed satisfactorily with manageable pain during his therapies and was ambulating with a walker. There are very few reported cases of hemipelvectomies in patients with pelvic chondrosarcomas and none reported about this rehabilitative complication of painless hip dislocation. Despite the close oversight by trained therapists, rehabilitation nurses, and daily physiatrist encounters, hip dislocation was still possible following pelvic reconstruction and THA.

Conclusions: Physiatrists should be aware of this possible complication following a hemipelvectomy despite absent clinical signs, as it affects functional gains during IPR and impacts future surgical planning with the potential to negatively affect long-term mobility if not corrected.