Hip Surgery MD

A hip fracture is a serious injury that involves a break in the upper quarter of the femur (thigh bone). It can result in significant pain over the outer upper thigh or in the groin, particularly when the hip is flexed or rotated. Hip pain and fractures most commonly occur in individuals over 65 years of age, whose bones may be weakened by degenerative conditions. Additional information can be found from the hip fracture article on MayoClinic.org.

Younger, more active individuals are susceptible to a specific type of hip fracture called femoral neck stress fracture. Repetitive impact to the lower extremities, such as distance running, can produce small hairline fractures in the section of bone that connects the ball of the hip joint with the main shaft of the thighbone. With continued strenuous activity, a stress fracture may become larger or even displaced, resulting in pain and swelling around the hip. Usually, the best form of treatment is hip surgery followed by physical therapy.