What is the primary purpose of an Abduction Pillow after a surgical procedure?

• A. To keep the lower extremities abducted to prevent crossing the legs after surgery.
• B. To prevent elbow stiffness.
• C. To promote prone positioning.
• D. To immobilize the hip.

Answer: (A)

Keeping the legs in an abducted position after hip surgery is essential to protect the joint and promote healing. An abduction pillow is placed between the legs to prevent the thighs from crossing and to keep the hips from adducting and rotating inward. This alignment helps reduce the risk of dislocation of the surgical repair during the early recovery period and supports proper healing of the tissues around the hip.

It’s not about preventing elbow stiffness, which involves the elbow joint and its range of motion, nor does it promote prone positioning—abduction pillows are used with the patient in supine or side-lying positions to maintain abduction. It also isn’t meant to immobilize the hip; rather, it maintains a safe, abducted position while allowing safe movement under guidance.