What Causes Hip Fracture?

hip fractureIt occurs most frequently in elderly patients when they fall due to weak bone structure. Even a simple fall of the elderly can be a sufficient reason for a hip fracture. Osteoporosis (bone loss) plays a major role in hip fractures caused by a simple fall. Osteoporosis is more common after menopause. A patient with weakened bones may even trip and fall at home, causing a hip fracture.

In some cases, it may even be possible for the hip to fracture spontaneously in people whose bones are very weakened. Blood pressure irregularities, visual impairment, decreased reflexes and muscle strength in the elderly make it possible for the patient to fall. In young people, it is generally seen to occur as a result of serious accidents.

Symptoms of a hip fracture are as follows:

• Severe pain occurs in the groin or upper thigh.
• Swelling and tenderness are observed.
• Severe bruising or redness occurs on the hip.
• A person with a hip fracture experiences discomfort when turning their hip.
• The patient cannot sit on his hip, lie down, walk, or has great difficulty walking.

Diagnosis of Hip Fracture

Doctors can diagnose a hip fracture based on the patient's symptoms, the abnormal posture of the hip, and a comprehensive physical examination. hip fracture Diagnosis is confirmed by imaging tests such as x-ray and MRI scan or bone scan.

Types of Hip Fractures

There are three types of hip fracture: femur fracture, trochanteric fracture and subtrochanteric fracture. These types are determined according to the location of the fracture. You can see the location of the fractures in the picture below.

Femur fracture:  Damage caused by trauma to any part of the thigh bone, which we call the femur, which lies between the hip joint and the knee joint, which is one of the largest long bones of the body, is called a femur fracture. The biggest symptom of a femur fracture is severe pain and swelling. It occurs more frequently in women over the age of 60 than in men. Definitive diagnosis is made by x-ray.

Trochanteric fracture: Trochanteric fractures generally occur more in people over the age of 70. The fracture that occurs in the area between the two trochanters is called a trochanteric fracture.

Subtrochanteric fracture: Subtrochanteric fracture occurs as a result of strong trauma such as traffic accidents, gunshot wounds, and falls. Subtrochanteric fractures are known as fractures that occur in the upper part of the femur.

Treatment of Hip Fracture

Treatment varies depending on the type of fracture, the patient's age and general health condition. Surgical method is not preferred in patients with anesthesia risk. But this is a very rare situation. Non-surgical treatments may be preferred for fixed fractures. During this process, the patient must lie down constantly and not stand up or walk. He should get plenty of rest. Close x-ray monitoring is performed in case there is a risk of slippage in the fracture.

In surgical treatment, a prosthesis or platinum is generally applied to femur fractures, depending on the patient's age, bone strength and general condition. in young ages hip fracture Nailing or screwing is used to heal the fractures in people with this condition.

In the elderly, total or partial prosthesis treatment is applied because the possibility of healing of broken bones is low. In the treatment of trochanteric fractures and subtrochanteric fractures, compression hip nailing surgery is generally preferred to heal the bones.

After Hip Fracture Surgery

Patients should receive physiotherapist support to get out of bed after being discharged to their homes or rehabilitation center after surgery. After the surgery, it would be appropriate for the patient not to put any weight on his feet for a certain period of time and to do some exercise movements so that he can walk as before. You can check out our other articles to get information about exercise movements you can do on your own.