By Euro Weekly News Media • Published: 25 Nov 2021 • 17:01
All you need to know about hip fracture
A hip fracture is a serious injury that particularly affects the elderly, and is mainly associated with osteoporosis and falls. Although it is a severe problem, it can have complications.
Osteoporosis is one of the main causes of hip fracture in people over 65 years of age. It is a skeletal disease in which there is a decrease in bone density. As a result, the bones become more porous, less resistant to shocks and break more easily.
The physiological condition and menopause of women from middle age onwards means that they are the ones who suffer most from this sort of injury.
However, there are other risk factors that contribute to the high rate of hip fractures in the elderly, such as the decrease in mobility associated with age and the loss of visual and hearing ability. “The combination of these factors increases the likelihood of falling and trauma resulting in a hip fracture of traumatic origin,” as explains, Dr. Maciej Tadeusz Was, a trauma specialist at Quirónsalud Torrevieja.
Hip fractures “need surgical treatment in almost all cases,” according to Dr. Maciej Tadeusz Was, a hip surgery specialist, which should be performed as soon as possible to ensure greater success.
Not operating on the fractured hip will result in pain and deformity in the area, as well as the inability to walk. Surgery is therefore the best option.
The surgery will depend on the type of fracture sustained. However, it usually lasts for about 60 to 120 minutes. The type of surgery will depend on the type of fracture:
Once the patient has undergone surgery, mobilisation is recommended as soon as possible to strengthen the muscle tone of the operated limb and avoid the dreaded muscle atrophy and joint stiffness. If the progress is satisfactory, sitting position is advised after 12-24 hours. Starting to walk depends on the overall condition of the patient and the type of operation performed, and should begin between 24-48 hours after surgery. However, in cases of osteosynthesis of the femoral neck, standing on the operated leg is not allowed until the bone is joined, which occurs after 8-12 weeks. After implantation of a cementless prosthesis, the patient is not allowed to fully or partially stand (depending on the surgeon’s recommendations) for 6 weeks. Patients with nail-fixed trochanteric fractures must walk with partial support until the bone is completely healed, which takes about 8 weeks.
Rehabilitation will depend on the specific characteristics of the patient. In general, the patient is expected to return to pre-fracture functional status within three to six months after surgery.
Although complications may arise after surgery, the most common scenario after a hip fracture surgery is that the patient progresses well and allows the mobilisation and walking described above during the initial postoperative days.
Our Orthopaedic Surgery and Trauma Unit at Quirónsalud Torrevieja has some of the best specialists in hip diseases. For more information: www.quironsalud.es/torrevieja/en/services/orthopaedic-traumatological-surgery
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