Hip Fractures: Types, symptoms, and treatment options.
Older adults are more prone to suffering a hip fracture, especially if they have conditions such as Osteoporosis, but it is not exclusive to this age group. If a young person suffers a high-energy impact, such as a car accident or a fall from a considerable height, they can also suffer a fracture. However, it is much more frequent in the elderly due to the high prevalence of Bone Fragility.
Fractures are mainly divided into two types:
Intracapsular Fracture:
These occur in the femoral head or neck.
Extracapsular Fracture (Intertrochanteric):
This occurs just below the femoral neck, in a wider area that extends to the lesser trochanter of the femur.
Symptoms:
In most cases, when a person suffers a hip fracture, they lose the ability to bear weight on the limb and walk. They feel severe pain in the hip or groin, which in some cases can radiate to the knee because they share nerve endings. If there is significant internal bleeding, bruising may develop in the hip area. When lying down in a resting position, one leg may appear shorter than the other and be rotated outward.
Management:
Management is usually surgical to ensure the patient returns to walking as soon as possible and enjoys a better quality of life. There are different options to achieve successful consolidation and rehabilitation; the choice depends on the type of fracture, the patient's age, bone density, and whether or not there are other underlying diseases.
Osteosynthesis:
Metal implants or screws are inserted, which in some cases are attached to a metal plate on the bone to hold it together while the fracture heals.
Partial Hip Replacement:
Only the femoral head is replaced using a stem fixed to the femur. This prosthesis articulates directly with the patient's own acetabulum.
Total Hip Replacement:
The surfaces that make up the hip joint are entirely removed, including the femoral head and neck, as well as the articular surface of the acetabulum. In their place, an acetabular implant called a cup and a femoral stem are implanted.
Following surgery, the patient must begin physiotherapeutic work. Initially, it will focus on exercises that help maintain range of motion and recover gait. Subsequently, it will focus on strengthening the muscles around the joint. In many cases, the support of a cane, crutches, or a walker will be needed to aid recovery, as determined by the doctor along with the physiotherapist.
