Orthopedics Hip Fracture Treatment Specialist Q&A

If your hip is in fact fractured, it’s serious, and its complications can actually be life-threatening. You may have a hip fracture if you can’t get up from a fall or can’t walk, but it’s necessary to have a hip fracture treated at the ER (emergency room). To diagnose a hip fracture, an emergency care doctor will check for the following signs and symptoms:

• An inability for you to get up or walk
• An inability for you to bear weight on a leg
• Bruising and swelling in the affected area
• Significant pain in your hip or groin
• The outward turning of your leg
• A shorter leg on the side of your injured hip

Remember, a fractured hip must be treated at the ER initially, otherwise, it won’t heal properly or at all, and weight-bearing on the hip can make the fracture worse. With professional treatment and surgery, it will take some time for a fractured hip to heal. In most cases, the patient will be able to return to work and other activities after a couple or a few months, and in other cases, it can take six months to a year for a patient to fully recover. Older patients may not make a full recovery and may struggle with their lifestyle. However, there are ways for these patients to manage their pain and mobility problems going forward.

After or during emergency room care, the treatment for a fractured hip is a combination of surgery, rehabilitation, and medication. The type of surgery needed can depend on where the fracture is located and how severe it is. Your age and health are other factors. Sometimes the best treatment is internal repair with screws to help the fracture heal, while other times the best treatment is a hip replacement. This replacement procedure can be partial or total.

With a total hip replacement, the upper femur and the socket in the pelvic bone are replaced with prostheses which are artificial parts. With a partial replacement, it’s possible for a surgeon to remove a part of the femur or parts of it and install a metal replacement.

Very soon after the procedure, the patient will begin rehabilitation with physical therapy, and the rehab will be focused on range-of-motion and strengthening exercises. During this period, medication can help manage pain. Also, the patient may benefit from or require the services of an occupational therapist who can teach new techniques for independence in daily life, such as techniques for bathing and cooking. The occupational therapist will determine whether a mobility device like a walker or wheelchair would help.

Please remember that a hip fracture requires emergency treatment initially, then it requires follow-up treatment from a professional like one of ours here at The Orthopedic Group. We have multiple locations in Leesburg, Lansdowne, and Stone Springs. Please see our Locations page for the location in your area, as well as its address and contact information, then go ahead and call us at that location if you believe you may need our services. You can book a consultation with us from that page. We serve patients from Leesburg VA, Lansdowne VA, Stone Springs VA, Dulles, VA, Ashburn VA, Sterling VA, Aldie VA, South Riding VA, Herndon VA, Winchester VA, Reston VA, and Chantilly VA.

We hope to hear from you and help you soon!