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What is a hip fracture? — A "fracture" is another word for a broken bone. A hip fracture is when a person breaks the top of the thigh bone (femur) near the hip joint (figure 1).
There are different types of hip fractures. The type of fracture depends on which part of the thigh bone breaks and how it breaks. When a bone breaks, it might crack, break all of the way through, or shatter.
Hip fractures are usually caused by falls. Hip fractures happen most often in older adults, especially those with a disease that makes the bones weak, called osteoporosis.
What are the symptoms of a hip fracture? — Symptoms of a hip fracture include:
●Pain, swelling, or bruising in the hip or groin
●Being unable to walk
●The leg on the injured side is shorter than the other one
●The hip is rotated inward
A hip fracture can also make the injured leg look like it's turned away from the body and shorter than the uninjured leg.
Is there a test for a hip fracture? — Yes. The doctor or nurse will ask about your injury and symptoms, do an exam, and take an X-ray.
They might also do other imaging tests, such as a CT, MRI, or ultrasound. Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body.
How are hip fractures treated? — Treatment depends, in part, on the type of fracture and how serious it is. The goal is to have the ends of the broken bone line up with each other so the bone can heal.
First, your doctor will treat your pain. Doctors can use different medicines to treat pain. The medicines can come as a shot, as a pill, or through a thin tube that goes into your vein, called an "IV."
Most people with a hip fracture are treated with surgery. People usually have surgery within a few days of their injury. Doctors can use 2 main types of surgery to treat a hip fracture, depending on the type of fracture:
●The doctor can use screws, pins, rods, or plates to fix the bone inside the body.
●Total or partial hip replacement – During this surgery, the doctor replaces all or part of the hip joint with artificial or "prosthetic" parts (figure 2).
In some cases, hip fractures are not treated with surgery. Examples of people who might not need surgery include:
●People who have mild fractures and are still able to walk
●People who no longer walk and are not in a lot of pain
If a person does not have surgery, their fracture might heal on its own.
After your hip fracture, your doctor will probably test you for osteoporosis. This involves a special X-ray called a bone density test. Your doctor might also treat you for osteoporosis. Treatment for osteoporosis usually involves medicines called "bisphosphonates."
How long do hip fractures take to heal? — Hip fractures take weeks to months to heal, depending on the type of fracture.
Healing time also depends on the person. Healthy children usually heal much more quickly than older adults or adults with other medical problems.
How long it takes to recover, and what you need to do, depends on whether you had surgery and what type of surgery you had.
Patient education: Hip fracture in adults – Discharge instructions (The Basics)
Patient education: Pelvic fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Fractures (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use crutches (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use a walker (The Basics)
Patient education: Osteoporosis and osteopenia (low bone mass) (The Basics)
Patient education: Deciding to have a hip replacement (The Basics)
Patient education: Bone density testing (The Basics)
Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health (The Basics)
Patient education: Preventing falls in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Quitting smoking (The Basics)
Patient education: Pressure sores (The Basics)
Patient education: Total hip replacement (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Quitting smoking (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Bone density testing (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Osteoporosis prevention and treatment (Beyond the Basics)
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