Hip Fracture Symptoms, Causes, and Risk Factors – Hip fracture is a condition when bones in the hip joint are cracked or broken. This condition often occurs due to harsh impacts in the hip area.
The hips are joints that connect the femur to the pelvic bones. This joint plays an important role in controlling the movement of the human body, such as walking, sitting, or simply twisting the body.
When the hip bones crack or break, the limbs will be interrupted and can inhibit daily activity.
Actually, in the mean hip fracture is the upper thigh bone fracture. This condition is an emergency that requires doctor’s treatment immediate.
Hip Fracture Symptoms and Signs
The hip fracture symptoms and signs, include:
- Can not move after falling
- Very painful of the pelvis or thighs
- Cannot give a burden on the injured side of the leg
- Cannot lift, move or rotate legs.
- It cannot stand or gain weight on the leg on the injured side of the hip.
- Stiffness, bruising and swelling of the pelvic area and surrounding areas
- The leg length is not the same, usually the injured side is shorter than the other
- Feet lead out on the side of the injured leg.
These symptoms generally occur after a fall. But if you have a brittle bone due to osteoporosis or other disorders, you can experience hip fractures without falling first.
Read also: Stress fracture in foot: The types, causes, symptoms, how to treat it, and when to see a doctor.
Causes of hip fractures
Hip fractures can be caused by several things, including:
High energy injuries.
Hip fractures can occur due to high energy pressure, such as the result of a car or motorcycle accident, getting hit, or falling from altitude (such as from stairs). Depending on the direction and strength of pressure, the injury can be life-threatening and requires surgical treatment.
Bone weakness.
Hip fractures can also occur due to weak bones. It is more commonly encountered in elderly populations who have decreased bone density due to osteoporosis.
In these patients, fractures can occur even when performing regular routine activities, such as getting out of a bath or descending stairs. The injury generally results in a stable fracture and does not cause damage to the integrity of the hip ring.
The lack of vitamin D and calcium intake.
The lack of vitamin D and calcium intake increases the risk of osteoporosis, which allows for easy hip fractures due to trauma.
Excessive activity
Excessive activity such as lifting weights and excessive leg exercises increases the risk of a strain to fractures.
Less motion.
Sports such as walking can help strengthen bones and muscles, thereby making the risk of falling and broken down reduced.
Chemical content in ciga**rettes.
Chemical content in ciga**rettes increases the risk of damage to cells in the organs in the body especially in the bones.
Certain medications.
Some medications that have been consumed over a long period of time like Prednisone can trigger osteoporosis as a side effect.
Other causes.
Although quite rarely, fractures can occur in the ischium bone separate from the location where the hamstring muscles stick. This type of fracture is referred to as an avulsion fracture, and can occur in young athletes who are in their infancy.
Read also: Fracture Ankle: Definition, Causes, Symptoms, and When To See A Doctor.
Risk Factors
The degree of hip fractures increases sharply with:
History of hip fractures.
If you have experienced a hip fracture before, then the risk to occur a second time increases.
Bone density and muscle mass are reduced.
Elderly people also have problems with vision and balance that will increase the risk of falling.
Gender.
About 70% of hip fractures occur in women, because women lose bone density faster than men, caused by estrogen levels that decline during menopause.
Chronic medical conditions.
Endocrine disorders such as hyperthyroid (excessive active thyroid gland) can cause brittle bones. Indigestion can decrease the absorption of vitamin D and calcium, thereby weakening the bones.
Medical conditions affecting the brain and nervous system, such as cognitive impairment, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke and peripheral neuropathy, may increase the risk of falling.
Nutritional problems.
Lack of calcium and vitamin D in food at a young age will decrease bone mass and increase the risk of fractures in the present day. Serious eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia can cause damage to the body’s skeleton by eliminating important nutrients in the body that are necessary to build bones.
Read also: How To Cure Athlete’s Foot Naturally.
Thank you very much for reading Hip Fracture Symptoms, Causes, and Risk Factors, hopefully useful.
