Hip fractures can occur for many reasons. The type of treatment recommended depends on the bones and soft tissues affected and the severity of fracture.
At Penn Medicine we diagnose and treat all types of hip fractures and offer comprehensive surgical and rehabilitative treatment. Our team includes specialists in bones, soft tissues, nerves, muscles and ligaments — we do not overlook a single component of the hip. This allows you to receive optimal care for your injury.
Meet the team of experts who specialize in hip fracture treatment
Conditions That May Cause Hip Fractures
Hip Fractures from Osteoporosis
Hip fractures occur more often in seniors because as you age, bones can become weak and brittle — a condition called osteoporosis. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, approximately one in two women and up to one in four men age 50 and older will break a bone due to osteoporosis. If you are a senior and believe you have a hip fracture, you need immediate attention.
When an elderly patient is diagnosed with a hip fracture at Penn, we send out a system-wide alert to our Geriatric Hip Fracture team. The alert is part of a sophisticated streamlined clinical process that eliminates delays in providing treatment to our seniors, reducing complications.
Learn more about our Geriatric Hip Fracture program
Sports-Related Hip Fractures
Although a high percentage of hip fractures occur in seniors, they can also occur in young adults during sports and activity or a car accident and other traumatic incidents.
High impact sports such as running, football, soccer or hockey make the hip joints work hard. These sports require a great deal of sprinting, jumping and, in the case of football and hockey, colliding with other players. The extreme forces are absorbed by the hip joint and over time may lead to a hip stress fracture.
Our team is made up of surgeons who specialize in fractures and in sports medicine, and we work together to provide the right type of treatment for your hip fracture.
Trauma-Related Hip Fractures
The extreme forces involved in traumatic accidents such as car or motorcycle collisions increase the risk of suffering a broken hip. Broken hips cause pain, swelling or the inability to walk and can keep you from working or performing daily activities. The sooner you are evaluated and treated, the better your outcome.
Diagnosing Hip Fractures
The two most common diagnostic imaging tools for fractured hips are X-ray and MRI.
X-Ray: An X-ray is a fast, safe scan that can be used to quickly identify a hip fracture. The X-ray allows doctors to see multiple angles, such as the anteroposterior (AP) and lateral angles of the hip.
MRI: If we suspect that there may be injury to surrounding soft tissue such as muscles or nerves, we'll order an MRI so that we can see the fracture(s) and any soft tissue damage.
Surgery for Hip Fracture
Once we have received images of your hip and determined what type of fracture you have, we'll discuss the recommended treatment options.
Surgery is not necessary for every hip fracture; however, if the fracture has been displaced, the bone will not heal correctly. We will need to put the bones in place by using pins, screws or plates to ensure proper alignment. This approach is referred to as “hip pinning.” We'll also address any damaged ligaments, tendons or nerves in surgery.
Another surgical treatment we may recommend is partial hip replacement, or hip hemiarthroplasty, where we replace the “ball” of your joint and not the socket. In a total hip replacement, or total hip arthroplasty, we replace both the ball and socket portions of your joint.
After surgery, we'll likely want you to begin physical therapy as soon as you are able. We'll discuss the details with you upon discharge.