Hip fracture
Hip fractures mainly occur in the top of the thigh bone. It can take only a small fall to break the bone if your bones are weak. The main problems associated with hip fractures are disability caused by immobility and, subsequently, high mortality rates. It has been estimated that patients who have had a hip fracture as a result of weak bones, spend more days in the hospital than those who have had a stroke, diabetes, or a heart attack.
Early complications associated with hip fractures include:
- infection, especially pneumonia
- chronic pain
- dislocation
- nonunion
- avascular necrosis
- post-traumatic arthritic changes
The most severe complication associated with hip fractures is death by pneumonia. In men mortality after first hip fracture is 30%. Although rare, fat embolism to the lung, could be fatal.
