Hip fracture – recovery and how to lower your risk

Get the facts about hip fractures, whether you or someone close is affected.


What are the symptoms?

What causes it and who’s at risk?

When to see a doctor and getting diagnosed 

What are the treatments?

Recovery – what to expect

How to lessen your risk

Where to get support

A hip fracture usually happens when someone falls or has some other kind of direct injury to their hip. Risk rises with age and it can take a while to recover. Find out more plus what can help to lower your risk of falls and fractures when you’re older. 

A hip fracture is a break in the upper part of the thigh bone, also called the femur – the long bone that runs from the pelvis to the knee.

When you’re younger, slipping on a bathroom mat, tripping while out for a run, or falling down the stairs when you’re in a hurry may lead to some nasty bruises, but most of the time, you probably won’t wind up with a serious injury. 

In older people, though, falling is a common cause of a hip fracture, otherwise known as a broken hip, because bones can weaken with age. 

When younger people fracture a hip, it’s often due to a major accident such as a car crash. 

Discover more about hip fractures and how to lessen your risk.


## What are the symptoms?

A fracture usually follows a fall or another accident, and symptoms generally start immediately, although they can come on gradually and get worse. They include:

- pain in the hip or upper leg. Usually, it’s sharp, severe pain, but sometimes it could be milder or more of an ache
- swelling and bruising around the area
- inability to stand or put weight on the affected hip and leg
- difficulty moving the hip and leg
- a change in the way the hip and leg look – the leg could be at a strange angle, or look shorter than the other leg, for example. 

__You need emergency medical treatment if you have severe hip pain after an injury or a fall, you can’t walk or you are unable to put any weight on your leg, or you have had an injury and have tingling or lost feeling in your hip or leg. __


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## What causes it and who’s at risk?

An accident that causes severe impact, like a car crash, can lead to a hip fracture at any age. 

Athletes, such as runners, can develop stress fractures from repetitive activity – these can affect the hip, although they’re more likely in the bones of your feet and lower leg.

In older people, as bones become weaker, hip fractures can result from even minor falls. Or with a condition such as [osteoporosis](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/osteoporosis) – when bones become weaker and brittle – simply walking, or getting up from a chair could be enough to cause a break. 

Certain factors increase your risk of a hip fracture, including:

- __your age__ – bone density and muscle mass decreases with age and hip fractures are more common in over 65s. Plus movement and balance can be issues as you age, increasing risk of falls
- __being a woman__ – a drop in estrogen levels that happens due to menopause can mean a faster loss of bone density than men have
- __having conditions__ such as [osteoporosis](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/osteoporosis) that weakens bones, and [thyroid problems](https://www.livehealthily.com/self-care/thyroid-disease) that can lead to fragile bones
- __your lifestyle__ – being inactive and not getting much exercise leads to weakened bones. Factors such as smoking and drinking too much alcohol can also damage bone health
- __your diet__ – lack of nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D in diets can impact bone mass for the future in younger people, and to maintain this in older people. This is also a problem if you have a medical condition that affects the absorption of these nutrients. 


## When to see a doctor and getting diagnosed 

If you or someone else has symptoms of a hip fracture following a fall or other kind of accident, call an ambulance right away (remember, in an older person, even a minor fall can cause a fracture). 

A healthcare professional will examine the area, and carry out X-rays to confirm there’s a fracture and show where it is. They may also order other imaging tests, such as an MRI or CT scan. 


## What are the treatments?
Treatment depends on a few factors, including the type of fracture, your overall health, and your age. Generally, it’s likely to include:

- __surgery__ – necessary for nearly all hip fractures, this is usually carried out soon after you get to hospital, to relieve the pain and allow you to get out of bed and move. It may involve fixing broken bones into place, replacing some of the damaged joint with an artificial part, or a full hip replacement
- __physical therapy__ to help you recover movement, strength, and flexibility
- __medication__ to reduce pain and inflammation.


## Recovery – what to expect

Healthcare professionals try to get people out of bed, starting with physical therapy, the day after surgery. This can reduce the risk of complications from being inactive in bed for too long, such as [blood clots](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/thrombosis) including [deep vein thrombosis](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/deep-vein-thrombosis) and [pulmonary embolism](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/pulmonary-embolism), and bed sores, and may help prevent long-term disability in older people. 

Physical therapy helps to build strength and flexibility, and occupational therapy can help you learn to manage daily living activities while you recover. 

Many older people are left with long-term mobility issues after a hip fracture. But if you’re under 50, you’re likely to make a good recovery and should be back to moving and living independently within 4 months of surgery.


## How to lessen your risk
You can take steps throughout your life to prevent a hip fracture, including:

- __exercising__ for strength and balance, including weight-bearing exercise, such as walking and jogging to help protect against bone loss, and balance training, such as tai chi
- __eating a balanced diet__, including plenty of calcium-rich foods such as dairy, sardines, tofu, and broccoli 
- __getting enough vitamin D__, from sunlight, oily fish, eggs, and fortified cereals. Talk to your healthcare professional about whether you’d benefit from a supplement 
- __avoiding alcohol and tobacco__
- __keeping to a healthy weight__
- __talking to your doctor about protecting your bones__, especially if you’re a woman in your 40s or 50s, as the loss of estrogen at menopause can speed up bone loss.


## Where to get support
Find out more about protecting your bone health, from organizations including:

- [International Ostoeporosis Foundation](https://www.osteoporosis.foundation)
- [Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation (US)](https://www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org)
- [Royal Osteoporosis Society (UK)](https://theros.org.uk)


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References

Charlotte Haigh

Jo Wheatley

Dr Tamer T Malak

Article information

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