New to MyHealth?
Manage Your Care From Anywhere.
Access your health information from any device with MyHealth. You can message your clinic, view lab results, schedule an appointment, and pay your bill.
ALREADY HAVE AN ACCESS CODE?
DON'T HAVE AN ACCESS CODE?
NEED MORE DETAILS?
MyHealth for Mobile
Get the iPhone MyHealth app »
Get the Android MyHealth app »
Hip Fracture
What Is a Hip Fracture?
A hip fracture is a break in the femur (thigh bone) of the hip joint. Joints are areas where two or more bones meet. The hip joint is a ball and socket joint, where the femur meets the pelvic bone.
The ball part of the hip joint is the head of the femur, and the socket is a cup-like structure in the pelvic bone called the acetabulum. Hip fracture is a serious injury and requires immediate medical attention.
Who is affected by a hip fracture?
About 90 percent of hip fractures happen to people over age 60. The incidence of hip fractures increases with age, doubling for each decade after age 50. Caucasians are affected two to three times more often than non-Caucasians primarily because of a higher rate of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis (loss of bone tissue) is a disease that weakens bones.
Women are more prone to osteoporosis than men; therefore, hip fracture is more common among women. They experience about 89 percent of all hip fractures. More than 1.5 million Americans have fractures annually because of osteoporosis.
The number of hip fractures in the US is the highest in the world with approximately 270,000 occurrences each year. In 2003, there were about 345,000 hospitalizations for hip fractures. It is estimated that the number could exceed 500,000 by the year 2040.
Why is a hip fracture so serious?
People who sustain a hip fracture are more likely to die than a person of the same age who does not experience this injury. About 20 percent of people who have a hip fracture die within a year of their injury. It is estimated that only one in four persons have a total recovery from a hip fracture.
Most people spend from one to two weeks in the hospital after a hip fracture. The recovery period may be lengthy, and may include admission to a rehabilitation facility. People who previously were able to live independently will generally need help from home caregivers, family, or may require the services of a long-term care facility. Hip fractures can result in a loss of independence, reduced quality of life, and depression, especially in older people.
Sports Medicine Clinic
See a Stanford specialist to learn about your treatment options. Visit our clinic to make an appointment.
Hip Fracture
90 percent of hip fractures happen to adults over 60. The chance of a hip fracture doubles for each decade after 50. Learn more at Stanford Health Care.
Hip fracture
What Is a Hip Fracture
hip fractures
Hip fracture symptoms
Hip fracture treatment
Hip fracture types
Hip fracture diagnosis
Hip fracture causes
Hip fracture treatments
treatment for hip fractures