Broken hip - Diagnosing a hip fracture
- Introduction
- Symptoms of a hip fracture
- Causes of a hip fracture
- Diagnosing a hip fracture
- Treating a hip fracture
- Recovering from a hip fracture
- Complications of a hip fracture
- Preventing 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.
© Crown Copyright 2009