Hip Fracture Surgery

About Hip Fracture Surgery

Hip fracture surgery repairs a break in the upper part of the femur, the thigh bone, near the hip joint. Hip fractures are very common in older adults, usually after a fall, and are closely associated with osteoporosis. The operation chosen depends on the location of the break. Fractures of the femoral neck, inside the joint capsule, are often treated by replacing the femoral head with a hemiarthroplasty or by total hip replacement, while undisplaced neck fractures may be fixed with screws. Intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures, outside the capsule, are usually fixed with a sliding hip screw and side plate or with an intramedullary nail inserted down the center of the bone. Guidelines in many countries recommend surgery promptly after admission, and care is increasingly delivered through orthogeriatric models in which orthopedic surgeons and geriatricians work together. The goal is to allow early mobilization. Hip fracture is regarded as a serious event in older people, and assessment of bone health and fall risk is part of comprehensive care.