I fracture'd my hip and I didn't under go any surgery. I am 20 years old. What happened? Most people get surge

Question

I read that most people get a pin or something...but I didn't. What are the risks here?

I also underwent traction and I was wondering what the complications of this is? Thanks for the answers guys, I appreciate it....I have like 20 doctors and none of them gave me their contact info so I was hoping someone who is qualified would answer me here.

Answer 1

Not all fractures require intervention. Only those that have shattered or completely broken the bone. Sometimes just bedrest, traction to relieve pressure from that site is all it takes to let your fracture heal by itself. Be sure to follow up and have xrays to make sure the fracture is healed-be careful with strenuous activity and/or falls during the healing process;you could cause the fracture to open again or continue to fracture into a complete break. Hope that helps

Answer 2

Well if the Dr. didn't advise a Pin u are OK because your fracture didn't need an invasive procedure. < which is a benefit for you.

But if u made the call of getting a pin, when it was advised, then your fracture would have healed, but at a different spot. which is also OK .. as long as it isn't adjacent to any joints, where the abnormal healing would cause the joint to immobilize later on down the line, or the healed joint develops a scar bone that it can cause arthritis as it rubs with another bone.

then there another reason that a pin would be advised; so that the healing site is unable to heal at the right spot because of the position of the fracture, and it will show that on the out side. And most of the time traction takes care of this.. it lets it heal at the right spot so it will be as close to new as possible.

Answer 3

If the Doctors did not put a pin in you, perhaps they feel that the fracture was made in such a way that it will heal fine on its own?

While I have never fractured a major bone, I was of the opinion, that Doctors know it is the patients best interest for any sort of break or fracture to heal as close to normal as possible. I can't imagine the Doctor's you have seen would not go through the thought process of the best method to heal.

I also don't understand why you can't ask your surgeon or any surgeon for their opinion or why they didn't feel it was necessary to put a pin in your hip?

Answer 4

Your fracture probably didn't need a pin to be held together. Thankfully, your hip fracture stayedin place and only needed traction to keep it immobile while the bones started to knit in place.
You shouldn't have any complications from the treatment as long as you are gentle with your hip for a few months while it heals up totally.
In the future, your hip may get sore after lots of stress on it.
Glad you are OK!

Answer 5

It's not the 4.5 years, it's WHICH 4.5 years. She will still be 15 for another 6-7 months! Forget the age difference. That's not the problem. Your problem is that you're an adult & she's way underage. This is totally wrong. Can you wait until she's 18?

Answer 6

you shoud because if you dont there could be lots of consequences this hip fracture will seal but not the best way you should go and do everything you doctor recomend if he says you need a surg then just let them do it dont be a coward nothing bad will happen but if you dont many bad things can happen ok so go ahead and good luck

Answer 7

THE MERCK MANUAL MEDICAL LIBRARY: The Merck Manual of Medical Information--Home Edition
Print This Topic




Section


Bone, Joint, and Muscle Disorders



Subject


Fractures


Hip
-
-

More than 270,000 hip fractures occur in the United States each year, with about 90% of them occurring in people older than 60. Hip fractures are more common in older people because of osteoporosis and because older people are more likely to fall. Use of some drugs increases the risk of hip fractures in older people (see Aging and Drugs). One in three women and one in six men who reach age 90 will fracture a hip during his or her lifetime.

The upper end of the femur (thighbone) has large bony bumps (trochanters) where powerful muscles attach, then a short neck, and finally a spherical head that forms the outer half of the hip joint. Most hip fractures occur just below the spherical head (femoral neck or subcapital hip fractures) or through the trochanters (intertrochanteric hip fractures).

Femoral neck hip fractures are particularly problematic because the fracture often disrupts the blood supply to the femoral head, which forms the hip joint. Without a good blood supply, the bone cannot heal and eventually collapses and dies. Intertrochanteric hip fractures tend to create large broken bone surfaces that cause internal bleeding.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Most older people fracture their hips by falling while walking on level ground, often when indoors. They usually cannot move their leg, much less stand or walk. When a doctor examines the person, the leg appears shortened and turned outward because of the unbalanced pull of muscles and gravity. Swelling and a purplish bruise develop because of blood leaking from the fracture.

An x-ray usually shows an obvious fracture and can help a doctor confirm the diagnosis. However, faint fracture lines may not be seen initially on x-ray. Thus, when a person continues to have pain and is unable to stand a day or more after a fall, the x-ray may have to be repeated or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or bone scan obtained.

Treatment

Most people with a hip fracture are treated with surgery. The type of surgery depends on the type of fracture.


Repairing a Fractured Hip
Repairing a Fractured Hip

There are two common types of hip fractures. Femoral neck or subcapital hip fractures occur in the neck of the femur. Intertrochanteric fractures occur in the large bony bumps (trochanters) where the powerful muscles of the buttocks and legs attach. When the fracture is not too severe, metal pins can be inserted surgically to support the femoral head. This surgical procedure preserves the person's own hip joint.

Treatment of severe femoral neck hip fractures involves removing the broken pieces surgically because the blood supply to the femoral head has been damaged. If damage to the femoral neck is incomplete (the break does not go all the way through), metal pins can be inserted surgically to support the femoral head (internal fixation). This is a smaller surgical procedure and the person's own hip joint is preserved.

Intertrochanteric hip fractures are treated with an implant, such as a sliding compression screw and side plate. This implant securely holds the bone fragments in their proper position while the fracture heals. The fixation is usually strong enough to permit the person to bear weight as tolerated. While the bone fragments generally heal in a couple of months, most people continue to improve in terms of comfort, strength, and walking ability for at least 6 months.

If partial hip replacement is needed, special metallic implants are used that have a polished spherical surface to match with the joint socket and a strong stem to fit within the central marrow canal of the thighbone. Some prosthetic implants are secured to the bone with a rapid-setting plastic cement. Others have special porous or ceramic coatings into which the surrounding living bone can grow and bond directly.


Replacing a Hip
Replacing a Hip

When the topmost part (head) of the thighbone (femur) is badly damaged, it may be replaced with an artificial part (prosthesis), made of metal. This procedure is called partial hip replacement. Very rarely, the socket into which the femoral head fits (forming the hip joint) must also be replaced. The part used is a metal shell lined with durable plastic. This procedure is called total hip replacement.

After joint replacement surgery, the person usually begins walking with crutches or a walker immediately and switches to a cane in 6 weeks. However, artificial joints do not last forever. The person, especially someone who is active or heavy, may need to undergo another operation 10 to 20 years later. Joint replacement is often advantageous for older people, because the likelihood that additional surgery will be needed is very low. In addition, older people benefit greatly from being able to walk almost immediately after surgery.

Sometimes the whole joint needs to be replaced. This procedure is performed rarely for fractures, but most commonly for osteoarthritis (see Osteoarthritis).

If people with hip fractures are forced by their illness to stay in bed, they are at increased risk for serious complications, such as bedsores, blood clots leading to pulmonary embolism, mental confusion, and pneumonia. A great benefit of surgical fixation is that it allows the person to get out of bed and begin walking as soon as possible. Usually, the person can take a few steps with a walker 1 to 2 days after the operation. Physical rehabilitation is started as soon as possible (see Rehabilitation: Hip Fracture).

Last reviewed/revised February 1, 2003

Contact UsSite MapPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseCopyright 1995-2006 Merck & Co., Inc.

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=Fractured+Hip&y=Search+the+Web&ei=UTF-8&fr=FP-tab-web-t400&x=wrt&meta=vl%3Dlang_en
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/print/sec05/ch062/ch062d.html
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec05/ch062/ch062d.html