|
 |
|
| hip fractures, trochanter, osteoperosis, hip, injury, hip fracture prevention |
|
 |
What is a Hip Fracture? |
| Why is hip fracture prevention so important? Hip fractures usually occur in the femoral neck (the part of the femur, or thighbone, that connects to the ball that fits into the hip socket) or the trochanteric area (the area below the neck of the femur). The trochanteric area is the most vulnerable to fracture. It lies at the very top of the thigh bone in close proximity to the pelvic joint. The trochanter feels like a small bony elevation on the side of the hip. This ball will notably move, when the knee is slightly raised. Most people can locate their trochanter by placing the fingers on the side of the hip whilst standing and slightly raising their knee. The trochanter should not be confused with the pelvic bone that is located higher and further towards the front of the body and does not move on raising the knee. Hip fractures are usually treated with orthopedic surgery (surgery that corrects problems of muscles, bones, and/or joints). Sometimes damaged parts of bones or joints are replaced with artificial components. |
|
How are Hip Fractures caused and how are they treated? |
| Hip fractures are most commonly sustained during a fall. Falls and hip fractures have serious implications on an elderly persons' life as the consequences can be very severe. There is a high degree of morbidity and mortality, pain and hardship. The majority of people suffering hip fracture never regain their previous mobility and permanently lose their independence. The costs to the health services and social care systems are extremely high. Preventing hip fractures is, therefore, of the utmost importance. Hip fractures are a major public health problem. In the U.S. alone the cost of hip fracture is approximately 7 billion dollars annually, and hip fracture is the second most common cause of admission to nursing homes, accounting for some 60,000 admissions each year. Osteoporosis in the elderly contributes to most of these fractures. Many elderly patients who break a hip face a broad array of problems that transcend the treatment of the injury itself. In many cases, an elderly person's independent existence is impacted by a fall that causes a hip fracture, an event that can forever lessen the patient's level of function. Medical treatment for hip fracture can lead to complications in older people depending on their health status. Rehabilitation from hip surgery often is prolonged and discouraging to aged patients anxious to return to their homes. Confusion and agitation result from depression, a condition often experienced by the elderly when they have been removed from familiar surroundings and brought to the hospital environment. This injury may be complicated by the failure to regain the ability to walk, sores resulting from persistent pressure on the skin during confinement to bed, pneumonia, confusion and dementia (decreased intellectual functioning). Osteoporosis in the elderly contributes to most of these fractures. |
|
Can Hip Fractures be prevented? |
YES! The chance of sustaining a hip fracture can be greatly reduced by putting some simple procedures in place. Some Hip Fracture Prevention Strategies include:
The prevention and treatment of osteoporosis Falls prevention strategies and implementation Protection of the hip with external hip protectors Hip fracture prevention is very important ! |
| click here to download your Hip Protector Information Pack (5mb) |
| hip fractures, trochanter, osteoperosis, hip, injury, hip fracture prevention |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
