NUH orthopaedic surgeon shares about the treatment, recovery and prevention tips for hip fractures. Hip fractures occur at the upper thigh bone or femur which is connected to the pelvis at the hip joint. There are two main types of hip fractures. The first type is the neck of femur (NOF) fracture which is located closer to the hip joint. The second is an intertrochentric (IT) fracture which is located further from the hip joint.
Common causes of hip fractures include falls among the elderly and high impact accident among the young. Lower bone mass also increases the risk of hip fractures.
Diagnosis:
The doctors will take a history, perform a physical examination and order x-rays or MRI scans to derive to the diagnosis.
Treatment types:
For intertrochendric fractures, the surgery aims to fix the bone back into its original position. The surgeon holds the bone fragments in place by securing them with metal implants. They can be placed within the bone or on the surface of the bone.
For neck of femur fractures, a partial hip replacement can be performed to replace only the ball joint at the end of the femur or a total hip replacement can be performed to replace both the ball joint and the socket on the pelvis.
Post surgery, most patients can get out of bed and begin therapy the day after surgery. The physiotherapists and occupational therapists will teach the patients simple exercises and how to manage daily activities. Adequate painkillers are given to patients to ensure that they remain as comfortable as possible after surgery and for them to feel confident to participate actively in rehabilitation exercises.
Patients are usually discharged after three to five days.
Lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of future fractures once the patient has recovered:
- Keep a healthy weight
- Consume foods rich in calcium and vitamin D
- Engage in a regular exercise routine to maintain muscle strength and balance
- Investigate and seek treatment for pre-existing osteoporosis
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NUH is Singapore's major tertiary hospital and referral centre with over 50 medical, surgical and dental specialties. It is the only public hospital in Singapore to offer a comprehensive suite of specialist care for adults, women and children as well as paediatric kidney and liver transplant programme, in addition to kidney, liver and pancreas transplantations for adults.
0:00 - Introduction to hip fractures
0:32 - Neck of femur (NOF) fracture
0:40 - Intertrochanteric (IT) fracture
0:46 - Causes
1:19 - Diagnosis
1:42 - Treatment
2:03 - Surgery for IT fracture
2:21 - Surgery for NOF fracture
3:08 - Post-surgery care & rehabilitation
4:34 - Lifestyle changes to prevent future hip fractures