In the United States, about 300,000 people break their hip every single year. Some of these hip fractures can link back to fall injuries. Those who are more likely to suffer hip fractures are adults over 65.
If you are in this demographic, WebMD explains that there may be other contributing factors. Those who may have hip fractures include those who are underweight, who have a history of osteoporosis, who do not exercise or do not have enough vitamin D or calcium.
What are hip fracture symptoms?
Sometimes, when you fall, you may not know the extent of your injuries. When you break a bone, it is not always obvious that you did so. Many people believe they are simply sore when there are worse problems.
If you have a hip fracture, you may experience several different symptoms. These symptoms include:
- Hip or groin pain
- Bruising around the source
- Swelling around the hip
- Vague pain in the hips, thighs and back
A misconception about hip fractures is that you cannot walk with a fracture. The truth is that most people can still walk on a hip fracture. To find out for sure, you need an x-ray.
Are there hip fracture complications?
Hip fractures may not come with any other complications. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes a hip fractures can damage your muscles, your tendons, your blood vessels, your ligaments and other components. If you do not treat your fracture right away, then it can lead to complications later on.
These complications may include bedsores, blood clots, pneumonia, loss of muscle mass and more.
