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Health A-Z

Medical Content Created by the Faculty of the
Harvard Medical School

Expected Duration

The hip will improve after initial treatment, and pain should subside. It is common, however, for a person to require crutches for a short time after treatment and to have a limp that continues for weeks. Complete healing of the hip and surrounding tissue can take two or three months. Your doctor may prescribe a strengthening program to strengthen muscles and ligaments around the hip and reduce the chance that the hip will become dislocated again.

A person with significant pain after a hip dislocation may have developed the complication avascular necrosis from injury to the hip's blood supply. Avascular necrosis may require surgery and can make the recovery period much longer.

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From Health A-Z, Harvard Health Publications. Copyright 2007 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Written permission is required to reproduce, in any manner, in whole or in part, the material contained herein. To make a reprint request, contact Harvard Health Publications. Used with permission of StayWell.

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