Hip Fracture

What is Hip Fracture?

The hip joint is a “ball and socket” joint. The “ball” is the head of the femur, or thighbone, and the “socket” is the cup shaped acetabulum. The joint surface is covered by a smooth articular surface that allows pain free movement in the joint.

Hip fracture is a break that occurs near the hip in the upper part of the femur or thighbone. The thighbone has two bony processes on the upper part - the greater and lesser trochanters. The lesser trochanter projects from the base of the femoral neck on the back of the thighbone. Hip fractures can occur either due to a break in the femoral neck, in the area between the greater and lesser trochanter or below the lesser trochanter.

Causes of Hip Fractures

Hip fracture is most frequently caused after minor trauma in elderly patients with weak bones, and by a high-energy trauma or serious injuries in young people. Long term use of certain medicines, such as bisphosphonates to treat osteoporosis (a disease-causing weak bones) and other bone diseases, increases the risk of hip fractures.

Signs and Symptoms of Hip Fractures

The signs and symptoms of hip fracture include:

• Pain in the groin or outer upper thigh
• Swelling and tenderness
• Discomfort while rotating the hip
• Shortening of the injured leg
• Outward or inward turning of the foot and knee of the injured leg

Diagnosis of Hip Fractures

Your doctor may order an X-ray to diagnose your hip fracture. Other imaging tests, such as the magnetic resonance imaging or (MRI), may also be performed to detect the fracture.

Depending on the area of the upper femur involved, hip fractures are classified as

• Intracapsular Fracture
• Intertrochanteric Fracture
• Subtrochanteric Fracture

Treatments for Hip Fractures

Hip fractures can be corrected and aligned with non-operative and operative methods:

Hip fractures are typically treated with surgery. Most commonly using intramedullary fixation, plate and screws or hip replacement. This omits the need for plasters or braces. It also enables early weight bearing and mobilisation. This avoids the complications associated with long term bed rest and enables a faster recovery.

Occasionally traction may be used. This is when pins or wires are inserted into the femur and a pulley system is set up at the end of the bed to bear heavy weights. These heavy weights help in correcting the misaligned bones until the injury heals.