Hip Repair
I had what was a relatively minor fall while out walking which resulted in me being brought to hospital for an X-ray. I was quite shocked to be told that I had an intertrochanteric hip fracture, something I always thought happened only to much older people. I'm in my early 60s.
Approximately 90 per cent of hip fractures occur in people over the age of 60 years as a result of osteoporosis and the fact that we are more likely to fall as we get older.
The upper end of the femur - thigh bone - has large bony projectories called trochanters where the powerful muscles of the buttocks and leg attach.
Above these is a narrow neck and finally the spherical head that forms part of the hip joint along with the pelvis.
Most hip fractures occur just below the spherical head or through the trochanters - known as an intertrochanteric hip fracture.
I required surgery to repair it and the surgeons mentioned something about a plate but I didn't really understand how this worked. Can you explain?
Most people who fracture their hips require surgical treatment. The type of surgery will depend on the site of the fracture.
Intertrochanteric hip fractures are usually treated with a sliding compression screw and side plate (see diagram).
This device works by holding the bone fragments in their correct position while the fracture heals.
In other types of fractures, such as an incomplete fracture of the neck of the femur, metal pins are used to secure the femoral head in place.
If the fracture is more severe, a partial or total hip replacement may be required.
I'm three weeks over my misadventure and wonder how much longer it will be before my leg is back to normal.
Although the fixtures used to repair an intertrochanteric fracture are usually robust enough to allow weight bearing on the joint soon after surgery, the bone fragments generally need a couple of months to knit.
With surgical fixation, most people are able to get out of bed and start walking with a walker or crutches one to two days after surgery.
Early mobilisation with physiotherapy is important to promote muscle strength and range of movement in the joint.
It also guards against the risk of complications such as developing a blood clot, pneumonia or pressure sores.
You should see continued improvement in the joint for at least six months following surgery.