Recovery after a hip fracture

Fracture of the femoral neck is a common injury that occurs with the elderly, because they are let down by poor eyesight, limited mobility of movements, and sometimes impaired coordination. A fall from the height of one's height with brittle bones, which is typical of people after 60 years of age, sometimes becomes fatal. These injuries happen to younger people as well. Doctors say that it is not so much a fracture that is dangerous as the complications that it causes. Recovery to a large extent depends on the correct recovery period after injury. [1]

Recovery time after surgery

A great chance to return to the previous way of life is given by the operation to replace the hip joint or osteosynthesis - the use of fastening structures. After it, the patient stays in the hospital for another 10-14 days under the supervision of doctors, where they carry out the necessary therapeutic measures to avoid complications, help to stand on crutches and take the first steps. [2]

This is followed by a long rehabilitation at home or in a specialized institution, in which the patient must take an active part. [3]

The recovery time after surgery depends on many factors, including age, general health, muscle tone, mental attitude, quality of patient care, and can range from 2 months to a year. Doctors recommend the first 1.5-2 months to move around with crutches.

Rehabilitation activities include:

• medical support (painkillers, sedatives, decongestants, vitamin complexes, calcium preparations, immunostimulants);
• physiotherapy: water procedures, magneto-, cryo-, laser therapy, electrical stimulation (accelerate metabolic processes, blood microcirculation, relieve pain, strengthen muscles);
• physiotherapy exercises (increases joint mobility);
• massage (increases blood flow, saturates tissues with oxygen);
• diet (will help to lose weight, ensure the intake of necessary substances into the body);
• psychotherapy (reduces stress, helps to find peace of mind, gives motivation to make physical efforts).

At home, it is difficult to ensure the implementation of this entire list, therefore, if possible, it is best to resort to the services of rehabilitation centers. [4]

Terms of recovery of a fracture of the femoral neck without surgery

The longest is the recovery of a fracture of the femoral neck without surgery. In this case, with the help of gypsum, immobility of the damaged area is created. Do not perform surgery on bedridden patients who have suffered a stroke or heart attack during a fall, suffering from senile dementia. At a younger age, bone fusion takes a very long time, at least 6-8 months, and in older people this may not happen at all.

The complexity of rehabilitation with prolonged bed rest also lies in the high probability of various complications: pressure sores, venous congestion, muscle atrophy, intestinal atony, congestive pneumonia, deep vessel thrombosis. [5]

The recovery period is multi-stage, it includes procedures used after arthroplasty, and aimed at combating physical inactivity, preventing the listed consequences. Patients also use special beds, bandages that support the femoral neck, they need more thorough hygiene care, massages, and skin products. [6]

Exercises to recover from a hip fracture

For patients who are not bedridden, exercises have been developed to recover from a hip fracture and they are carried out in three positions: lying, sitting and standing.

Lying in bed from the first days they begin:

• breathing exercises (inflate the balloon, breathe with the stomach);
• move the toes of the sore leg, make circular movements with the foot;
• turn the foot to one side and the other;
• strain and relax the muscles of the buttocks, thighs, calves;
• do not forget about a healthy leg, bend and unbend at the knee joint;
• repeat the exercise for both legs, without taking your heels off the bed;
• imitate walking, connect the movement of hands along the thigh.

Sitting direct efforts to strengthen the knee and hip joints:

• squeeze and unclench toes;
• legs are spread shoulder-width apart, alternately come off the floor and hang for a few seconds parallel to it;
• with outstretched legs they tap their heels on the floor;
• twist the spine, turning the body in different directions.

Standing:

• start with vibrational movements with slightly bent knees, depicting horseback riding;
• imitate walking, bending the legs at the knee, making movements with the arms, body, gradually lifting the heels off the floor (until pain occurs);
• legs apart, slightly turn the body in one direction and the other;
• shifting from foot to foot, transferring body weight from one to another.

Exercises are done repeatedly, as long as there is enough strength, gradually increasing the load.

The rehabilitation program is developed for each patient individually, taking into account his characteristics.