Hip Fracture Surgery – Indications, Procedure, Risk

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Inter-trochanteric fracture repair; Subtrochanteric fracture repair; Femoral neck fracture repair; Trochanteric fracture repair; Hip pinning surgery; Osteoarthritis-hip Hip fracture surgery is done to repair a break in the upper part of the thigh bone. The thigh bone is called the femur. It is part of...

For severe symptoms, danger signs, pregnancy, child illness, or sudden worsening, seek urgent medical care.

বাংলা রোগী নোট এখনো যোগ করা হয়নি। পোস্ট এডিটরে “RX Bangla Patient Mode” বক্স থেকে সহজ বাংলা সারাংশ যোগ করুন।

এই তথ্য শিক্ষা ও সচেতনতার জন্য। এটি ডাক্তারি পরীক্ষা, রোগ নির্ণয় বা প্রেসক্রিপশনের বিকল্প নয়।

Article Summary

Inter-trochanteric fracture repair; Subtrochanteric fracture repair; Femoral neck fracture repair; Trochanteric fracture repair; Hip pinning surgery; Osteoarthritis-hip Hip fracture surgery is done to repair a break in the upper part of the thigh bone. The thigh bone is called the femur. It is part of the hip joint. Hip pain is a related topic. Description You may receive general anesthesia before this surgery. This means you...

Key Takeaways

  • This article explains Description in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Why the Procedure Is Performed in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Risks in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Before the Procedure in simple medical language.
Educational health guideWritten for patient understanding and clinical awareness.
Reviewed content workflowUse writer and reviewer profiles for stronger trust.
Emergency safety firstUrgent warning signs are highlighted below.

Seek urgent medical care if you notice

These warning signs are general safety guidance. Local emergency numbers and clinical judgment should always come first.

  • Severe symptoms, breathing difficulty, fainting, confusion, or rapidly worsening illness.
  • New weakness, severe pain, high fever, or symptoms after a serious injury.
  • Any symptom that feels urgent, unusual, or unsafe for the patient.
1

Emergency now

Use emergency care for severe, sudden, rapidly worsening, or life-threatening symptoms.

2

See a doctor

Book a professional medical evaluation if symptoms persist, worsen, recur often, affect daily activities, or occur in a high-risk patient.

3

Learn safely

Use this article to understand possible causes, tests, treatment options, prevention, and questions to ask your clinician.

Inter-trochanteric fracture repair; Subtrochanteric fracture repair; Femoral neck fracture repair; Trochanteric fracture repair; Hip pinning surgery; pain and stiffness. সহজ বাংলা: বয়স/ক্ষয়ের কারণে জয়েন্টের ব্যথা।" data-rx-term="osteoarthritis" data-rx-definition="Osteoarthritis is wear-and-tear joint disease causing pain and stiffness. সহজ বাংলা: বয়স/ক্ষয়ের কারণে জয়েন্টের ব্যথা।">Osteoarthritis-hip

Hip fracture surgery is done to repair a break in the upper part of the thigh bone. The thigh bone is called the femur. It is part of the hip joint.

Hip pain is a related topic.

Description

You may receive general anesthesia before this surgery. This means you will be unconscious and unable to feel pain. You may have spinal anesthesia. With this kind of anesthesia, medicine is put into your back to make you numb below your waist.

The type of surgery you have depends on the kind of fracture you have.

If your fracture is in the neck of the femur (the part just below the top of the bone) you may have a hip pinning procedure. During this surgery:

  • You lie on a special table. This allows your surgeon to use an x-ray machine to see how well the parts of your hip bone line up.
  • The surgeon makes a small incision (cut) on the side of your thigh.
  • Special screws are placed to hold the bones in their correct position.
  • This surgery takes 2 to 4 hours.

If you have an intertrochanteric fracture (the area below the femur neck), your surgeon will use a special metal plate and special compression screws to repair it. Often more than one piece of bone is broken in this type of fracture. During this surgery:

  • You lie on a special table. This allows your surgeon to use an x-ray machine to see how well the parts of your hip bone line up.
  • The surgeon makes a surgical cut on the side of your thigh.
  • The metal plate or nail is attached with a few screws.
  • This surgery takes less than 2 hours.

Your surgeon may perform a partial hip replacement ( hemiarthroplasty ) if there is concern that your hip will not heal well using one of the procedures above. Hemiarthroplasty replaces the ball part of your hip joint.

Why the Procedure Is Performed

If a hip fracture is not treated, you may need to stay in a chair or bed. This can lead to life-threatening medical problems, especially if you are older. Surgery to fix the fracture is often recommended because of these risks.

Risks

Following are risks of surgery:

  • Avascular necrosis. This is when the blood supply in part of the femur is cut off for a period of time. This can cause part of the bone to die.
  • Injury to nerves or blood vessels.
  • Parts of the hip bone may not join together at all or in the correct position.
  • Blood clots in the legs or lungs.
  • Mental confusion ( dementia ). Older adults who fracture a hip may already have problems thinking clearly. Sometimes surgery can make this problem worse.
  • Pressure sores ( pressure ulcers or bed sores) from being in bed or a chair for long periods.

Before the Procedure

You will likely be admitted to the hospital because of a hip fracture. You probably will not be able to put any weight on your leg or get out of bed.

Tell your health care provider what medicines you are taking. This includes medicines, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription.

On the day of the surgery:

  • You will likely be asked not to drink or eat anything after midnight before your surgery. This includes chewing gum and breath mints. Rinse your mouth with water if it feels dry, but do not to swallow.
  • Take the medicines your provider told you to take with a small sip of water.
  • If you are going to the hospital from home, be sure to arrive at the scheduled time.

After the Procedure

You will stay in the hospital for 3 to 5 days. Full recovery will take from 3 to 4 months to a year.

After surgery:

  • You will have an IV (a catheter, or tube, that is inserted into a vein, usually in your arm). You will receive fluids through the IV until you are able to drink on your own.
  • Special compression stockings on your legs help improve blood flow in your legs. These reduce your risk of getting blood clots , which are more common after hip surgery.
  • Your doctor will prescribe pain medicines. Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.
  • You may have a catheter inserted into your bladder to drain urine. It will be removed when you are ready to start urinating on your own. Most of the time it is removed 2 or 3 days after surgery.
  • You may be taught deep breathing and coughing exercises using a device called a spirometer. Doing these exercises will help prevent pneumonia .

You will be encouraged to start moving and walking as soon as the first day after surgery. Most of the problems that develop after hip fracture surgery can be prevented by getting out of bed and walking as soon as possible.

  • You will be helped out of bed to a chair on the first day after surgery.
  • You will start walking with crutches or a walker. You will be asked not to place too much weight on to the leg that was operated on.
  • When you are in bed, bend and straighten your ankles often to increase blood flow to help prevent blood clots.

You will be able to go home when:

  • You can move around safely with a walker or crutches.
  • You are correctly doing the exercises to strengthen your hip and leg.
  • Your home is ready.

Follow any instructions you are given about how to care for yourself at home.

Some people need a short stay in a rehabilitation center after they leave the hospital and before they go home. At a rehab center, you will learn how to safely do your daily activities on your own.

You might need to use crutches or a walker for a few weeks or months after surgery.

Outlook (Prognosis)

You will do better if you get out of bed and start moving as soon as you can after your surgery. Health problems that develop after this surgery are often caused by being inactive.

Your provider will help you decide whether it is safe for you to go home after you have had this surgery to repair your hip fracture.

Open References

References

Simunovic N, Devereaux PJ, Sprague S, et al. Effect of early surgery after hip fracture on mortality and complications: systematic review and meta-analysis. CMAJ . 2010 Oct 19;182(15):1609-16. PMID: 20837683 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20837683 .

Weinlein JC. Fractures and dislocations of the hip. In: Canale ST, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell’s Operative Orthopaedics . 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2012:chap 55.

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Prepare before seeing a doctor

A simple rural-patient checklist to help you explain symptoms clearly, ask better questions, and avoid unsafe self-treatment.

Safety note: This is not a prescription or diagnosis. For severe symptoms, pregnancy danger signs, children with serious illness, chest pain, breathing difficulty, stroke-like weakness, or major injury, seek urgent care.

Which doctor may help?

Orthopedic doctor, rheumatologist, or physiotherapist depending on cause.

What to tell the doctor

  • Write which joints hurt, swelling, morning stiffness duration, fever, injury, and walking difficulty.
  • Bring X-ray, uric acid, ESR/CRP, rheumatoid factor, or previous reports if available.

Questions to ask

  • Is this injury, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, infection, or another cause?
  • Which exercises, supports, or lifestyle changes are safe?
  • Do I need blood tests or X-ray?

Tests to discuss

  • Joint examination and range of motion
  • X-ray when chronic arthritis or injury is suspected
  • ESR/CRP, uric acid, rheumatoid tests when inflammatory arthritis is suspected

Avoid these mistakes

  • Do not ignore hot swollen joint with fever.
  • Avoid repeated steroid injections/tablets without a clear diagnosis and follow-up.

Medicine safety and first-aid guide

This section is for patient education only. It does not replace a doctor, pharmacist, or emergency care.

Safe first steps

  • Drink warm safe fluids and avoid smoke/dust exposure.
  • Use a mask and seek testing advice if infection is suspected.
  • Breathing difficulty should be treated as a warning sign.

OTC medicine safety

  • Cough syrups are not always needed; ask a clinician or pharmacist, especially for children.
  • Do not use leftover antibiotics for cough without medical advice.

Avoid these mistakes

  • Do not start antibiotics without a proper medical decision.
  • Do not use steroid tablets or injections casually for quick relief.
  • Do not delay emergency care because of home remedies.

Get urgent help if

  • Shortness of breath, blue lips, chest pain, coughing blood, severe weakness, or low oxygen needs urgent care.
Medicine names, dose, and timing must be decided by a qualified clinician or pharmacist after checking age, pregnancy, allergy, other diseases, and current medicines.

For rural patients and family caregivers

Patient health record and symptom diary

Write your symptoms, medicines already taken, test results, and questions before visiting a doctor. This note stays on your device unless you print or copy it.

Doctor to discuss: Doctor / qualified healthcare provider
Tests to discuss with doctor
  • Basic vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen level if needed
  • Relevant blood, urine, imaging, or specialist tests only after clinical assessment
Questions to ask
  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • Which warning signs mean I should go to emergency care?
  • Which tests are really needed now?
  • Which medicines are safe for my age, pregnancy status, allergy, kidney/liver/stomach condition, and current medicines?

Emergency warning signs such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, sudden weakness, confusion, severe dehydration, major injury, or loss of bladder/bowel control need urgent medical care. Do not wait for online information.

Safe pathway to proper treatment

Care roadmap for: Hip Fracture Surgery – Indications, Procedure, Risk

Use this simple roadmap to understand the next safe steps. It is educational and does not replace examination by a doctor.

Go to emergency care if you notice:
  • Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms
  • Breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, confusion, severe weakness, major injury, or severe dehydration
Doctor / service to discuss: Qualified healthcare provider; specialist depends on symptoms and examination.
  1. Step 1

    Check danger signs first

    If danger signs are present, seek emergency care and do not wait for online information.

  2. Step 2

    Record the symptom story

    Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.

  3. Step 3

    Visit a qualified clinician

    A doctor, nurse, or qualified healthcare provider can examine you and decide which tests or treatment are needed.

  4. Step 4

    Do only useful tests

    Do tests after clinical assessment. Avoid unnecessary tests, random antibiotics, or repeated medicines without diagnosis.

  5. Step 5

    Follow up and return early if worse

    If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips
  • Take a written symptom diary and all previous prescriptions/test reports.
  • Do not hide medicines already taken, even herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
  • Ask which warning signs mean urgent referral to hospital.

This roadmap is for education. A real diagnosis and treatment plan requires history, examination, and clinical judgment.

RX Patient Help

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Write your symptom story. A health professional or site editor can review it before any answer is prepared. This box is not for emergency care.

Emergency first: Severe chest pain, breathing trouble, unconsciousness, stroke signs, severe injury, heavy bleeding, or rapidly worsening symptoms need urgent local medical care now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this article a replacement for a doctor?

No. It is educational content only. Patients should consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment.

When should I seek urgent care?

Seek urgent care for severe symptoms, rapidly worsening condition, breathing difficulty, severe pain, neurological changes, or any emergency warning sign.

References

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