Hip Fracture What is Hip fracture? A hip fracture is a break in the upper part of the thigh bone (femur) where it joins the hip bone to form the hip joint. There are two common types of hip fractures:
Hip bone
Thigh bone (femur) Who does it affect? • Older adults because they often have weak and brittle bones.
Neck of femur fracture
• Young adults with injuries from high-impact sports or road accidents. What are the signs? • Severe pain in the hip or groin. • Unable to apply weight on the leg of the injured hip. • Stiffness, bruising and swelling in and around the hip area.
Intertrochanteric fracture
What are the treatment options?
Is it safe for old people to go for surgery?
Surgery is usually needed to fix the fracture. The type of surgery will depend on the type of fracture.
There is no age limit for hip surgery – what matters more is:
Fractured neck of femur
• The likely outcome with or without surgery.
The top part of the thigh bone is usually replaced with a metal implant.
• Your overall health and mobility before the fracture.
• Your understanding of the risks and benefits of the surgery. As with all operations, hip surgeries come with a risk of complications. Your doctor will discuss these with you during the family conference.
Hip implant (Hemiarthroplasty) Intertrochanteric fracture Metal screws and plates are used to stabilise the bone so it can heal.
Dynamic Hip Screw Proximal Femoral Nail Antirotation
What happens if I do not go for surgery? Surgery is not compulsory for hip fractures. You need to make the decision based on how bad the pain is and how much it disrupts your lifestyle. However, the pain from your hip is likely to get worse with time. The broken bone will not heal properly without surgery so you will not be able to walk again and will need help with daily activities such as showering and going to the toilet.
Time matters! For the best chance of a good recovery, surgery should be done within 48 hours of the injury. Decide and let your team doctor know early. “When my 93 year-old mother had a fall, we were very worried. She broke her hip and we thought she would never walk again. We were afraid that surgery would be too stressful for her because she’s so old, but the doctors assessed her and said she could cope. They advised us to make a decision early because the body heals better when the operation is done soon after the injury. I’m glad we took their advice. I was nervous while my mother was in the operating theatre but when she got back to the ward it was a relief to see her sitting up in bed talking to her neighbour.”
What should I do after surgery? • Take the medication as prescribed and complete the antibiotics if any. • Drink plenty of water. This helps prevent bladder infections. • Eat a healthy and high fibre diet. • Keep the wound clean and dry - showering is permitted but ensure that the wound is clean and dry. • Attend your outpatient appointment for a review and removal of stitches if any. • Take frequent rest in between activities. • Follow the advice given by the healthcare professionals.
When should I seek medical attention? • Persistent fever (>38.5°C) or chills. • Foul smell from the wound. • Excessive fluid from the wound. • Swelling around the surgery site. • Calf pain. • Pain is not relieved after medication.
“The day after my mother’s surgery, the physio came to help her sit in a chair. She was scared it would be painful but the pain medication worked and she managed it. The next day the physio helped her take a few steps using the walking frame. They were the first steps in a long journey to her recovery. One year after the fall she’s walking around the flat on her own and able to go down to the coffee shop to meet her friends. She values her independence and takes extra care to prevent having another fall!”
Yishun Health is a network of medical institutions and health facilities of the National Healthcare Group. Admiralty Medical Centre • (65) 6807 8000 • www.admiraltymedicalcentre.com.sg Khoo Teck Puat Hospital • (65) 6555 8000 • www.ktph.com.sg Yishun Community Hospital • (65) 6807 8800 • www.yishuncommunityhospital.com.sg The information is correct at the time of printing and subject to revision without further notice.
IP.PE.02.0517