Hip Fractures: Leading Fracture
The Center for Disease Control estimated that every 18 seconds a person the age of 65 and up must be treated for an injury caused by a fall. Hip fractures are one of the most common injuries suffered by elderly after a fall. Few people know that hip fractures can be fatal to an individual. In 2004, there were over 300,000 elderly people treated for hip fractures with the CDC expecting an increase each year by 3 percent. When a resident of a nursing home falls it can be due to neglect of the health care providers. Female residents should be monitored more, as women are more likely to suffer a hip fracture because with age -- females suffer bone density with age more than men.
Health Caretakers are responsible for making sure the family member living at an Arizona nursing home receives proper care. This includes making sure they do not suffer a fall due to the lack of supervision. An Arizona Attorney can help you take legal action against the facilities that are responsible for making sure people are safe while under their care. The people you love should not have to be victim to lack of respect and care provided. In the last decade, costs of hip fractures have been amounted to nearly 3 billion dollars. An Arizona Attorney can help regain expenses paid due to neglect.
Symptoms of Hip Fracture
- Stiffness in the leg
- Bruising around the hip area
- Sharp Pain in the groin and hip
- Swelling (medium and severe)
- Difficulty standing/walking
- Pain with weight applied to the injured hip
Types of Hip Fractures according to American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
- Intertrochanteric Fracture - a fracture between the neck of the femur and a lower bone lesser trochanter.
- Subtrochanteric Fracture - this fracture occurs 2 ½ inches below the lesser trochanter.
- Intracapsular Fracture - these fractures are at the neck and the head of the femur in a capsule called the soft-tissue envelope. This capsule provides nourishment for the hip.
- Femoral head fracture - this is a severe hip injury that occurs in the head of the femur and often causes dislocation.
Treatment for Hip Fractures
Hip Fractures are costly. According to the Arizona Republic, hip replacements in the Arizona area can cost anywhere from $80,000 to $140,000. Although non-surgical methods exist, surgical procedures are often more beneficial for the patient and the only option for most hip fractures.
However, according the CDC, one out of five fractures suffered leads to death only a year after a hip injury occurs. Prevention is possible, but that involves proper monitoring and care for the individual, including daily exercise for a nursing home resident and proper medication.
Contact an Arizona Nursing Home Advocate Attorney
If a nursing home in the Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa or elsewhere in Maricopa County, has contributed to injury of a loved one due to negligence, they should be held responsible. An Arizona Attorney can help collect damages for their emotional and physical suffering. For more information about hip fractures in nursing homes or others injuries due to negligence see www.nursinghomeadvocates.com.
