First Aid & Emergencies

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Surgery usually is the most effective treatment for a hip fracture, although in most cases you will not regain all of the mobility that you had before the hip fracture. In general, if you were healthy and active before the fracture, then you will recover faster after surgery than a person who was not. If you have other health problems and have not stayed active, there is a greater chance of complications after surgery.

In rare cases, surgery is not done. For example, surgery is not done in people who are at high risk for complications during or after surgery and who may not benefit significantly from surgery, such as those who were unable to walk before the hip fracture and who have minimal pain. In these cases, your doctor will use medicine to manage your pain.

What to expect after surgery

There are many issues to consider after hip surgery. Older adults often need extensive care, including physical therapy and help with cooking, taking medicine, and personal care. Anticoagulant medicines are prescribed to reduce the risk of blood clots and associated stroke, pulmonary embolism, or thrombophlebitis. You will probably keep taking this medicine until you are walking frequently and well. This often takes at least 3 weeks.

After hip fracture surgery, your doctor will encourage you to participate in a rehabilitation (rehab) program. Research shows that 6 months of outpatient rehab that includes strength training can improve quality of life and reduce disability.³ Following a rehab program is very important because it will speed up your recovery and allow you to return to daily activities sooner.

If your hip fracture was from bone thinning of osteoporosis or another cause, your doctor may suggest that you take medicines such as bisphosphonates to help prevent another fracture.⁴

After a hip fracture, some people can never again be as independent as they were before the fracture. They may need to use a walker or cane to walk. They may need help with daily activities such as dressing and bathing. And many can no longer live on their own. It is hard to recover from a hip fracture. So be sure to do all you can to keep your bones strong and to avoid falls that can lead to a fracture. And if you do break your hip, work hard to get your strength and mobility back so you can be as independent as possible.

Prevention

There are steps you can take to help prevent a hip fracture.

Keep your bones strong

Eat nutritious foods that include adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D. Both are needed for building healthy, strong bones. Vitamin D is vital for calcium absorption in bones and to improve muscle strength. Getting more vitamin D may help prevent falls in older people who are low in vitamin D.⁵ And some studies show that taking vitamin D may reduce the chances of breaking a bone.⁶ Talk to your doctor about measuring your vitamin D to be sure you are getting enough. The best source of vitamin D is exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D is also added to milk, some calcium supplements, and many multivitamin supplements.