When you have surgery to repair a broken ... or fractured ... hip, the goal is to help you return to doing the things that you did before surgery.
The surgery lasts 1 to 2 hours. You'll get medicine to make you sleep and keep you from feeling any pain.
During the surgery, the doctor makes one or two cuts, called incisions, over the broken bone in your hip and moves the pieces of bone back into the right position. Then, the doctor uses metal screws, rods, or plates to hold the pieces together. Depending on the type of fracture, the hip may need to be replaced.
The doctor uses X-rays to see if the bones are in the correct position.
After the pieces of bone are properly lined up and held in place, the doctor stitches or staples the incisions closed.
Right after surgery, you may have a tube ... a catheter ...
connected to your bladder so that you don't have to get out of bed to use the toilet. You'll have medicine to help with pain and to reduce the risk of blood clots. And ... you may also have a compression pump or compression stocking on your leg, which squeezes your leg to help keep the blood moving and prevent blood clots.
On the first day after surgery, a physical, or physio-, therapist will help you get out of bed and start using a walker. This is the first step in your rehab program, and following your program is important ... because it will get you back to your daily activities sooner. But that will take anywhere from 6 to 12 months ...
and you'll probably need help. Depending on how much support you have at home, you may go from the hospital to a rehabilitation center for a few weeks.
Having surgery can be a little stressful. But knowing what to expect and how to prepare can help. Surgery is usually the best choice after a hip fracture, because it makes the bone stable so you can move around sooner ... and feel better.
And remember, you can always call your doctor if you have questions or concerns.
