First Aid Broken Bones Print Hip Fractures Symptoms and Treatment By Rod Brouhard, EMT-P Updated September 11, 2019 Medically reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD on November 10, 2019 WILLSIE / Getty Images More in First Aid Broken Bones Allergies & Anaphylaxis Bites & Stings Breathing Emergencies Bruises, Cuts & Punctures Heat & Cold Exposure Infections Rash Emergency Preparedness Calling for Help View All The hip is a joint that allows the leg to move forward and backward, as well as side-to-side. It consists of a ball (the head) at the top of the thigh bone (femur) inserted into a socket made from the bones of the pelvis. Usually, the term hip fracture refers to a break in the head of the femur. Hip Fractures in the Elderly It's possible to break a hip at any age, but it's much more likely to happen to the Medicare crowd. Bones get less dense and more brittle as we age, making any fracture more likely as we get older. Hips take quite a beating in the later years because we're much more likely to fall as we age as well. The best way to avoid a hip fracture is to take precautions to avoid falling. Symptoms Hip fractures hurt. In some cases, that's the only symptom. Consider the possibility of a hip fracture in any older adult with hip pain after a fall, especially if he or she is unable to move the leg. A more complete list of hip fracture signs and symptoms include: PainInability to moveThe injured leg is shorter than the uninjured legThe injured leg is rotated: Depending on the exact type of injury, the injured leg can be rotated either toward or away from the uninjured leg In almost every case there will be some sort of force that led to the pain, such as a fall or a car accident. Hip fractures can happen without any outside force—called a spontaneous hip fracture—but that's quite rare and usually, the victim knows they have brittle bones. Treatment First aid treatment for a hip fracture begins with calling 911. There isn't any definitive treatment that can be done at home, so the victim needs to be transported to the ER. Emergency crews have fancy lifting equipment to help the victim get off the ground easier, and paramedics can usually provide pain medication to help make the transport more bearable. Until the ambulance arrives: Follow any instructions given by the 911 operatorMake the victim as comfortable as possible: use pillows to cushion and position the injured legDon't give the victim anything to eat or drink Hip fractures are serious at any age, but the younger and healthier the victim, the more serious the fracture. A hip fracture requires significantly more force (which causes more damage) in a young adult. No matter the age, don't hesitate to call 911. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. "Hip Fractures." April 2009. Your Orthopaedic Connection. AAOS. 27 Nov 2009 Continue Reading