Hip fractures are common injuries in older adults, and they typically occur after a fall or other trauma. These injuries often require surgery and long recovery times. But what causes hip fractures and why are often they so harmful to older people?
Hip fractures are very serious injuries that affect millions of elderly Americans every year. This can be a much more serious injury for older adults. Here’s everything you need to know.
What Conditions Make You More Likely to Fall?
Research has identified many conditions that lead people to fall. These are called risk factors, and they range from age-related changes like osteoporosis to chronic diseases such as diabetes and arthritis.
Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become brittle and break easily. This is most common in women over 50 years old, but it can happen to anyone. Osteoporosis weakens the bone structure, making it easier for your body to fracture when you fall.
Falls are common among older adults. However, many falls do not cause injuries; some are just slips and trips. Older adults who fall frequently are more likely to break a bone or sustain a head injury.
Treating a Hip Fracture
Surgery is usually the recommended treatment option for a hip fracture. People with a hip fracture should be treated within 48 hours of being admitted to the hospital. This is because delaying treatment could lead to complications. However, there are certain circumstances where it may be appropriate to delay surgery to treat another medical problem. For example, if someone has had a stroke or heart attack, they may be too ill to undergo surgery. The type of operation you receive will depend on several factors, including:
- Your age and general fitness
- How long you have lived independently
- Whether you live alone or with others
Sometimes, a partial or complete hip joint replacement is necessary. The choice of whether to replace just one hip or both depends on how much damage has been caused to the bones around the hip joint.
Longer Hospital Stays and Recovery Times
Older adults who sustain hip fractures tend to experience longer hospital stays, higher rates of complications, and increased mortality compared to those without hip fractures. This is because they are at greater risk of developing medical problems such as pneumonia, pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections, delirium, and cognitive impairment.
Preventing Hip Fractures
You can reduce your risk of getting a hip fracture by taking steps to prevent falls and by treating osteoporosis to keep bones strong. Here are some things you can do:
- Use walking canes and other aids to make sure you don’t fall.
- Assess your home for hazards.
- Make your house safe.
- Do exercises to improve your balance.
- Find out more about preventing falls.
- Treat Osteoporosis
If you have osteoporosis, it may be harder for your bone to heal from an injury like a broken hip. You can treat this condition with medications and other treatments.
Contact a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in New York
Sometimes people fall down because of their own wrongdoing. However, when your loved one is under the care of a nursing home, it is their job to supervise them and to keep your loved one safe. If they are a fall risk, they should be provided mobility assistance. If you suspect a loved one has fallen and broken their hip due to nursing home abuse or negligence, you can contact Dalli & Marino, LLP to take legal action.
Our elder abuse lawyers can discuss with you the conditions surrounding your loved one’s accident to see if you might be looking at a case of nursing home neglect. For more information about elder abuse cases involving assisted living and/or nursing home care, contact us online or call (888) 465-8790. We also speak Spanish.
