An injury that specifically affects the part of the femur that connects the femoral head to the rest of the bone.
Most hip fractures in people with normal bone are the result of high-energy trauma (car accidents). If it occurs as a result of a minor trauma or a minor fall, it may be a fragility fracture in a person with a disease that weakens the bone (such as osteoporosis).
It presents with severe pain, shortening of the leg, and external rotation of the leg (the foot points outward).
Diagnosis is based on a detailed medical history, a thorough physical examination, and imaging tests (simple radiographs, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging).
Hip fractures most often require surgical treatment to heal. If the quality of the bone is good and the fracture allows, pins or screw plates designed specifically to hold the fragments in place while the fracture callus forms can be used. Rehabilitation exercises to regain strength in the affected leg muscles are very important.
- J. Richmond, G.B. Aharonoff, J.D. Zuckerman, J.K. Koval., Mortality risk after hip fracture., J Orthop Trauma, 17 (2003), pp. 53-56
- M. Gdalevich, D. Cohen, D. Yosef, C. Tauber. Morbidity and mortality after hip fracture: the impact of operative delay. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg, 124 (2004), pp. 334-340
- Bone mass and osteoporotic fractures. Calcif Tissue Int 1990; 47:63-65
- Amillo S, Villas C, Cañadell J. Manual de ortopedia y traumatología. Pamplona: Ediciones Eunate,, 229-242y (1991), pp. 295-309
