The hip joint is classified as a ball-and-socket type of joint. The "ball" portion is the rounded end of the femur, which is the thigh bone, and the "socket" is the acetabulum, a cup-shaped structure. The surfaces where the joint connects are covered with a smooth layer that enables the joint to move freely with minimal friction and without causing discomfort.
A hip fracture refers to a break occurring near the hip, usually in the upper section of the femur, the thigh bone. The thigh bone has two prominent bony areas at its top known as the greater and lesser trochanters. The lesser trochanter is a smaller bump that is located at the base of the femoral neck, which is on the back part of the thigh bone. Hip fractures can occur in different areas: either in the femoral neck, between the greater and lesser trochanters, or below the lesser trochanter.
Hip fractures are most commonly caused by minor injuries in older individuals who have weak bones, or by severe traumatic events in younger people. The prolonged use of specific medications, including bisphosphonates used to treat osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones, as well as other bone-related disorders, can raise the likelihood of experiencing a hip fracture.
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
Your doctor may ask for an X-ray to check for a hip fracture. Other imaging tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), might also be performed to find the location of the fracture.
Depending on the area of the upper femur involved, hip fractures are classified as:
- Intracapsular Fracture
- Intertrochanteric Fracture
- Subtrochanteric Fracture
Hip fractures can be corrected and aligned with non-operative and operative methods:
Traction could be an option to treat your condition if you are not suitable for surgery. Skeletal traction can be performed with local anesthesia, where screws, pins, and wires are placed into the femur. A pulley system is then set up at the end of the bed to support heavy weights. These weights help align the bones correctly until the injury has healed.
Hip fractures can be surgically treated with external fixation, intramedullary fixation, or by using plates and screws.
