Understanding Hip Fractures and Their Treatment
The human body is strong and beautiful. However, accidents can cause bone breakage. One particular nasty injury is a hip fracture. This refers to a fracture that occurs in the upper quarter of the femur bone. The extent of the particular break is dependent on the force that caused it. Hip fractures are increasingly getting common.
The hip is a type of joint referred to as ball-and-socket. It allows the bending of the upper leg and its rotation at the pelvis. Any injury to the hip socket is not considered a break. Hence, management of such socket breakage is treated differently.
There are a number of causes of this type of fracture including a fall that lands on the hip, a car accident or a sports injury. Some medical conditions can make a person more prone to this type of injury including osteoporosis, certain cancers and stress injuries that severely weaken the bone.
Patients with these breaks experience a number of symptoms. The most common is severe pain in the upper outer part of the thigh or around the groin region. In addition, the victim will experience great discomfort while attempting to flex, rotate, move or place weight on the hip. If the bone happens to be completely broken, the leg appears shorter. It may also appear in an external rotation where the knee and foot are turned outwards.
Since most hip fractures happen to people 65 years old and older, treatment can vary based on the condition and health of the patient. Almost all hip fractures require surgery to repair. This can hip repair surgery or hip replacement surgery. Rehabilitation and physical therapy is needed afterwards. It can take up to a year for the hip to completely heal.