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Treatment for hip fracture

Treatment for hip fracture begins as soon as your doctor determines that your overall medical condition is stable. The most common treatment for a hip fracture is surgery. If possible, the surgery is performed within 24 hours of your admission to the hospital.

The goal of any surgical procedure to treat a fractured hip is to hold the broken bones securely in position, in order for them to heal properly. The type of surgery you have generally depends on the location of the fracture in the bone, the severity of the fracture, and your age. Most hip fractures are treated in one of three ways: by repairing it with hardware, replacing part of the femur, or replacing the entire hip joint.

Your surgeon may insert metal screws into the bone to hold it together while the fracture heals. This procedure, called hip pinning, is simple and allows patients to begin putting weight down right after surgery.

Some hip fractures occur below the femoral neck. These hip fractures are usually truly the result of a fall. They are often are the hardest type of fracture to treat because they often involve more than one break, requiring several pieces of broken bone to be held together. In these cases, compression hip screws are attached to a metal plate that runs down alongside the femur. This approach helps align the bones and relies on the force of the muscles to compress the fractured bones together so they will heal.

If the ends of the broken bone aren’t properly aligned or they’ve been damaged, your surgeon may remove the head and neck of the femur and install a metal replacement (prosthesis). This procedure is called a partial hip replacement.

A total hip replacement involves replacing your upper femur and the socket in your pelvic bone with artificial parts called prostheses. Total hip replacement may be a good option if arthritis or a prior injury has damaged your joint, affecting its function even before the fracture.

Dr. Zehr is Southwest Florida’s most skilled and experienced surgeon in the direct anterior approach to total hip replacement. If your hip fracture requires a total hip replacement, you will want the best orthopaedic surgeon to perform your hip replacement surgery. Call 239-596-0100 to discuss your options for hip fracture treatment.

For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.comThe information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments, or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of a visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read on this topic. 

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