Hip Fractures

What is a Hip Fracture and how is it treated?

What is a Hip Fracture?

The head of the femur (leg bone) and acetabulum of the pelvis make up the ball and socket hip joint. A hip fracture occurs when one or both bones are broken.

Common causes of hip fractures include motor vehicle accidents, falls from heights, and sports injuries. The bone disease osteoporosis is also a common cause.

The following are some of the signs and symptoms of a hip fracture:

  • Severe hip and/or groin pain
  • Inability to stand
  • Bruising, swelling, tenderness
  • Stiffness

Patients who sustain a hip fracture require immediate medical attention. Once the fracture is diagnosed using medical imaging studies and a physical examination, it can be treated appropriately.

How is it treated?

The Fellowship Trained and Board Certified Hip Specialists at Olympia Orthopaedic Associates treat all types of hip fractures. Nonsurgical treatment options may be used to manage pain and inflammation associated with fractures. Some hip fractures will heal on their own if patients do not bear any weight for an extended period of time.

Hip fractures in which the bones do not properly align may require surgical intervention to correct. The Hip Specialists at Olympia Orthopaedic Associates use the latest surgical techniques to treat hip fractures and help patients recover quickly.