Hip Fracture Attorneys in Santa Ana
Legal Representation for Victims of Broken Hips in Santa Ana
A hip fracture (also known as a broken hip) is a serious and potentially life-threatening injury. The pain caused by a fractured hip after a slip and fall, or other accident can be intense, and surgery is likely needed, along with a lengthy and complex recovery. In addition to the physical pain, a broken hip can also cause emotional pain and suffering to you and your loved ones. If you have received a hip fracture as the result of property or premises negligence, such as a broken sidewalk or a poorly marked construction site, or as the result of a motor vehicle accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your losses. The Santa Ana broken bone lawyers at HN Injury Lawyers want to help. Call us today at (657) 333-5726.
General Information About Hip Fractures
Broken hips are a common injury, hospitalizing 300,000 people every year in the U.S. Hip fractures occur most frequently in the elderly population (people older than 65), although you can fracture your hip at any age. Most breaks happen near the upper leg or thighbone (femur) where the leg meets the hip. Elderly people, especially women, are more at risk since bones lose vital minerals and density with age, weakening their strength. In older adults, a slight slip and fall can result in a hip break.
Treatment of a hip fracture normally requires surgery, which is often effective. Surgery normally requires extensive recovery, including physical therapy, activity, and in some cases, the assistance of a caregiver. Complications from a broken hip can be life-threatening.
What Are Common Causes of Broken Hips?
The most common causes of broken hips are slip and falls and motor vehicle accidents.
- Trauma: People over 65 can suffer a hip fracture in an event such as a slip or a fall, often an insignificant one. A younger adult can also break a hip in a fall, but the cause is more likely a major trauma to the hip, such as a car accident.
- Other risk factors include: age (due to weak bones and osteoporosis), being female, being Caucasian, being thin, and being inactive.
Broken Hip Classifications
To diagnose your broken hip, doctors use x-rays, bone scans, MRI's, and/or CT scans. There are generally two kinds of hip fractures:
- Femoral Neck Fractures: The ball-and-socket hip joint is broken off the thigh bone (femur). The amount of dislocation of the fracture varies.
- Intertrochanteric Hip Fractures: This break happened below the upper thigh bone (femoral neck), and usually repair more easily. Treatment includes stabilization of the fracture with plates and screws.
Hip Fracture Treatment
Surgery is the preferred treatment of a broken hip and is recommended unless there is an extremely slight break (stress fracture) or the victim suffers from other severe medical problems. The kind of surgery depends on the patient's age and the details (location, displacement, severity) of the fracture. Here are some surgeries that are used in hip fracture treatment:
- Partial Hip Replacement (Hip Hemiarthroplasty): The hip joint (ball-and-socket) is removed, and a metal replacement is inserted. Used in displaced fractures and less active people. Rehabilitation is required.
- Hip Pinning: Inserting screws across the broken bone. It is used for an upper fracture with slight dislocation.
Recovery After a Hip Fracture in Santa Ana
There are many possible complications for hip fracture sufferers. Surgery and rehabilitation decrease the likelihood of complications. Physical therapy and activity (getting out of bed and walking as soon as advised and possible) are the best roads to recovery. While healing after surgery takes about three months, the complete recovery process can take up to a year or longer.
If you or a loved one has broken a hip due to the negligence of another in Santa Ana, you should seek the advice of an attorney. If have been hurt in Orange County, please contact HN Injury Lawyers at (657) 333-5726 for a confidential consultation. We will come directly to your hospital room. Let us help you through this painful time.
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