The hip joint is located near the top of the femur bone, called the femoral head. When the upper end of the femur become cracked or broken, the injury is referred to as a hip fracture. Hip fractures are most often associated with the infirm or the elderly, whose bones are weakened due to age or bone disease such as osteoporosis. The reality is that anyone who suffers a trauma to the upper leg can have a hip fracture, regardless of age or overall health. X-rays and MRIs can diagnose a hip fracture, along with a physical examination.
Pain
Pain is one of the primary signs of a hip fracture. Some people experience a muted, achy feeling in the hip and groin area prior to the actual fracture, while other do not feel this warning. Hip pain that results from a break in the bone can be intense, or it may feel stiff. The discomfort may hamper any weight-bearing activities in the affected leg. Pain may extend from the groin to the outer part of the thigh.
Discoloration
Discoloration of the skin can be a sign of a hip fracture in some people, according to the Mayo Clinic. People who experience bruising of the hip and upper leg that coincides with either pain or an observed trauma to the leg should have an X-ray taken to check for fractures.
External Rotation
External rotation is the term given to the position that someone with a hip fracture may assume to handle the pain. The foot and knee of the affected leg face out away from the body in a stiff position. A person who has a hip fracture may also appear to have one leg that is shorter than the other, due to the positioning of the body and the location of the bone break.
