Broken hip - Diagnosing a hip fracture

As hip fractures often occur as a result of a fall, diagnosis usually takes place at a hospital.

Hospital assessment

After arriving at hospital with a suspected hip fracture, your overall condition will be assessed. The doctor carrying out the assessment may:

• ask how you were injured and whether you've had a fall
• ask you whether this is the first time you've fallen (if you've had a fall)
• ask about any other medical conditions you have, such as a heart problem
• ask whether you're taking any medication
• assess how much pain you're in
• assess your mental state – for example, if you also hit your head you may be confused or unconscious
• take your temperature 
• make sure you're not dehydrated (where the normal water content of your body is reduced)

Depending on the outcome of your assessment, you may be given:

• painkilling medication
• a local anaesthetic injection near your hip
• intravenous fluid (fluid through a needle into a vein in your arm)

The healthcare professionals treating you will make sure you're warm and comfortable. After a while, you may be moved from the emergency department to a ward, such as an orthopaedic ward.

Imaging tests

Imaging tests will be used to confirm whether your hip has been fractured. There are a number of tests that you may have, which are briefly described below.

X-ray 

X-rays are a type of radiation used to create an image of the inside of your body.

As X-rays are very effective at detecting problems with bones, such as fractures, an X-ray is likely to be the first imaging test you have.

MRI scan

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may be used if the diagnosis is uncertain. MRI scans use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce a detailed image of the inside of the body. They're very effective at confirming even subtle hip fractures.

CT scan

A computerised tomography (CT) scan may be used if you're not able to have an MRI scan, or if there's not one available quickly.