Patient education: Hip fracture (The Basics)

What is a hip fracture? — 

This is when the top of the thigh bone (femur) near the hip joint breaks (figure 1). A "fracture" is another word for a broken bone.

Hip fractures are usually caused by falls. They happen most often in older adults, especially those with a disease that makes the bones weak, called "osteoporosis."

When a bone breaks, it might crack, break all of the way through, or shatter.

There are different types of fractures, depending on which part of the thigh bone breaks and how. Examples include:

●"Open" fracture – This is when the bone sticks out of the skin or can be seen through a wound.

●"Closed" fracture – This is when the bone does not stick out of the skin and cannot be seen through a wound.

●"Stress fracture" – This is caused by overuse. It often happens in the foot or shin bones. It is more common in people who do an activity over and over, such as running, jumping, or dancing.

Compared with adults' bones, children's bones are more likely to bend or break only partway. Special kinds of fractures children can get include:

●"Buckle" fractures – This is when the bone is compressed but does not break.

●"Growth plate" fractures – This is when the growing part of the bone near the end breaks, often where a ligament attaches to it.

What are the symptoms of a hip fracture? — 

Symptoms depend on the type of fracture. Common symptoms can include:

●Pain, swelling, or bruising in the hip or groin

●Being unable to walk

●The leg on the injured side looking shorter than the other one, or turned away from the body

●The hip getting rotated inward

Is there a test for a hip fracture? — 

Yes. The doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms, do an exam, and take an X-ray.

They might also do other imaging tests, such as a CT, MRI, or ultrasound. These 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 with medicines. They can come as a shot or pill, or through a thin tube that goes into your vein, called an "IV."

Most people with a hip fracture are treated with 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:

●They use screws, pins, rods, or plates to fix the bone inside the body.

●Total or partial hip replacement – They replace 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:

●Those who have mild fractures and can still walk

●Those 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. If you do have osteoporosis, your doctor might give you medicines called "bisphosphonates."

How long do hip fractures take to heal? — 

Most 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 will take to recover, and what you need to do, depends on whether you had surgery and the type of surgery.

More on this topic

Patient education: Hip fracture in adults – Discharge instructions (The Basics)
Patient education: Fractures in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Fractures in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Surgery to fix a broken bone (The Basics)
Patient education: Deciding to have a hip replacement (The Basics)
Patient education: Hip replacement (The Basics)
Patient education: Osteoporosis and osteopenia (low bone mass) (The Basics)
Patient education: Bone density testing (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use crutches (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use a walker (The Basics)

Patient education: Total hip replacement (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Osteoporosis prevention and treatment (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Bone density testing (Beyond the Basics)