Hip fracture is a common problem among elderly women. Reliable rehabilitation centers offer effective treatment for the condition with surgery, pain management, and physical therapy.

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Hip Fracture in Elderly Women
Hip fracture is a common problem among elderly women.
Reliable rehabilitation centers offer effective treatment for
the condition with surgery, pain management, and physical
therapy.
The hip is a large weight-bearing joint and is directly
connected to any movement
involving the lower body.
Fracture of a hip bone is a
major problem affecting
elderly women. A hip
fracture occurs when the
upper quarter of the femur
(thigh) bone breaks. If untreated, hip fractures in the elderly
can have life endangering consequences.
What Reports Say
•
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic
Surgeons, approximately 70 percent of hip fractures
occur in women.
•
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports
that by the age of 90, one in four women and one in
eight men will have suffered a fractured hip.
•
According to a recent report, approximately one in six
women will have a hip fracture in her lifetime.
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Causes
Often, falls from a standing height are the major cause of a
fractured hip. Elderly patients with osteoporosis are at a
much higher risk of developing a hip fracture. Medical
conditions affecting balance and mobility such as
Parkinson’s disease can also cause breakage of bones. Poor
nutrition, balance problems, poor vision and physical
inactivity or lack of exercises are other causes of hip
fracture in the elderly.
Types of Hip Fractures
Fractures of the hip are categorized as femoral neck
fractures and intertrochanteric fractures. A femoral neck
fractures generally occur within 1 to 2 inches from the end
of the femur, while an intertrochanteric fracture occurs 3 to
4 inches from the head of the femur.
Symptoms for hip fracture include:
•
•
•
•
Stiffness
Inability to move immediately after fall
Bruising and swelling around hip area
Severe pain in the hip area
Diagnosis and Treatment:
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The nature and intensity of the fracture will be identified
using diagnostic modalities such as X-ray and MRI. Based
on the diagnosis, reliable rehabilitation centers provide
customized treatment methods including surgery, pain
management, physical therapy, medications and fall
prevention programs to speed up recovery, provide pain
relief and improve mobility.
•
Orthopedic Surgery: The usual surgery involves
opening up the hip joint and placing a pin internally
through the neck of the femur into the femoral head.
An intertrochanteric fracture would require the
placement of a metal plate and screw to hold the bone
in place while it heals. In some cases, it would be
necessary to replace the part of the femur or perform
total hip replacement (arthroplasty).
•
Pain management programs: Both pharmacologic
and/or
non-pharmacologic
pain
management
interventions are utilized to control the pain such as
system analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDS), anti-convulsants, and relaxation
therapy.
•
Physical therapy: Physical therapy intervention for a
fractured hip is intended to improve mobility and
involves muscle re-education, strengthening exercises,
balance retraining, and gait training
Preventing Falls
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Older adult who have suffered a fall-related hip fracture are
at the increased risk of more falls. Preventing falls in older
adults can reduce fractures to a great extent. According to
the CDC, fall prevention programs have effectively reduced
falls in select populations by 30%-50% using multifaceted
approaches that include various combinations of education,
exercise, medication assessment, risk factor reduction, and
environmental modifications. Reliable healthcare centers
provide slip/fall prevention programs that can reduce the
risks of injury/fall in the elderly. The program is designed
to identify the physical and environmental factors that
cause falls and to modify these factors to prevent them.
Posted by HealthQuest
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http://www.hqbk.com/
1-718-769-2521