Bones can thin with age, making them more vulnerable to breakage, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. A slip or fall that would cause little more than bruising in a young person can cause major damage in a person with osteoporosis. Further complications can arise during the treatment process, as prolonged periods of bed rest increase the likelihood of blood clot formation in the deep veins of the legs, which can potentially embolize into a fatal pulmonary blood clot. Properly educating the patient on the available procedures can best prepare them for hip surgery.
Compression Screws
Hip fractures can affect different areas of the hip joint, and a different type of surgery is used for each fracture permutation. If a fracture occurs within the capsule of the hip joint, the surgeon may opt for treatment with compression screws, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. These metal implants can be used to secure a broken head of the femur. Large metal screws are inserted into the affected bone, where they provide stability as the broken area heals.
If the internal blood vessels of the joint capsule are damaged, insufficient vascular supply can impede the healing process, and arthritis can develop even though the fracture itself is repaired.
Intramedullary Nails
In cases where a fracture occurs between the greater and lesser trochanters, bony outgrowths of the femur located outside the joint capsule, an intermedullary nail can be implanted to stabilize the bone for healing. This type of implant is driven through the bone marrow of the femur and bolstered with a lag screw to shore up the bond between the fractured pieces of bone. Additional screws may be added to the lower end of the nail in order to prevent bone rotation around the nail.
Total Hip Prosthesis
If the joint is damaged beyond its ability to heal itself, a total hip prosthesis may be necessary. The hip joint consists of two skeletal elements: the socket, or acetabulum, and the ball, or head of the femur. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that a total hip prosthesis involves a plastic cup to replace the acetabulum, a metal ball to replace the head of the femur and a metal stem inserted into the bone to stabilize the prosthesis.
The traditional methods of installing a hip prosthesis require a large incision over the hip joint, but the University of Chicago Medical Center notes that newer techniques involving smaller incisions are in development as of 2010.
