Symptoms

What symptoms do hip fractures cause?

A hip fracture is very painful and usually prevents the injured person from standing or walking. The pain is located at the hip and is increased by any movement of the leg. The leg is often turned outwards more than usual and shorter. Some patients have been so immobilized by the pain of the injury that they have been unable to move to a phone to get help. It's not uncommon to wait hours for rescue. They are often dehydrated, cold and shocked by the accident and its aftermath. Other injuries such as abrasions, bruises, or even fractures of the wrist or forearm may have been caused by the fall. Because the patients who suffer a hip fracture are often elderly they may have other medical problems which have been made worse by the fall and the wait for help.