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Hip Fracture

Complete list of fracture information

A hip fracture is a break near the top of your thighbone (femur) where it angles into your hip socket.

Hip fractures are a serious health problem common among elderly men and women who fall in their own homes. Each year there are more than 320,000 hospitalizations for hip fractures, including people of all ages who are injured in car crashes and other accidents. Only one in four patients recover completely.

Hip Fracture symptoms

severe pain in the hip or lower groin after a fall
usually walking or even putting weight on the injured leg is not possible.

Diagnosis of a hip fracture

Your doctor will X-ray both of your hips to determine exactly where the bone broke and how far out of place the pieces have moved. If the fracture does not show up on X-rays, you might also get a MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan. Most hip fractures are one of two types:

Femoral neck fractures are 1-2 inches from the joint.
Intertrochanteric fractures are 3-4 inches from the joint.

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