A hip fracture is a serious condition in which the hip bone or femur becomes cracked or broken. A hip fracture results when external forces applied to the hip bone exceed the threshold of the bone, resulting in small cracks that mesh together to form a larger crack. Although extreme pain is usually the most obvious sign of a hip fracture, there are many other symptoms.
Thigh/Groin Pan
The most common sign of a hip fracture is thigh and/or groin pain. Depending on the degree of fracture and its exact location on the hip bone, the pain may be localized or a generalized pain that radiates over the entire leg and thigh. The pain also may vary in relation to the degree of hip fracture. Many times, a simple hairline fracture will produce only mild, transient pain.
Swelling
Normally, a hip fracture, especially one that causes significant bony displacement, causes significant hip and/or leg swelling. When your hip fractures, the body's immune system increases blood flow to the injured area, which results in significant fluid pooling. That, in turn, increases the size of the thigh and/or leg muscles. Depending on the location of the fracture, swelling can be localized or more generalized and extend into the knee region.
Shortened Leg
In a hip fracture, especially a severe one, if the fractured area of the hip bone breaks off or becomes dislodged to a significant degree, it's common for the leg to lose a noticeable amount of length.
Inability to Weight Bear
Most hip fractures, whether mild or more severe, produce enough hip and/or leg pain to make weight-bearing on the fractured leg difficult or unbearable. In severe hip fractures, the instability of the fractured hip bones can make standing impossible. However, in hip fractures where the bone is still intact, leg instability normally is not an issue.
Abnormal Foot Position
The position of the foot, whether it points straight ahead or out to the side, is determined by the condition and structure of the hip joint. Many hip abnormalities, including hip fractures, alter the normal angle and position of the femur, or leg bone, which alters the position of the lower leg bone, or tibia, and ultimately the foot. In a severe fracture, especially one with significant bone displacement, it is common for the foot to be pointed laterally instead of straight ahead.
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