Broken Hip Compensation, Symptoms And Treatment

A broken hip, also known as a hip fracture, is one of the most common broken bones that require a hospital stay especially in the elderly. However, any age can be struck with this unfortunate break. Breaking the hip bone immobilizes the person and usually requires surgery, therapy, and time to recover from.  There are two different types of breaks with a hip.  One, femoral neck fracture, is where the ball (of the ball & socket joint) becomes dislocated from the femur bone.  The largest concern with this type of break is that the blood flow has been disturbed to the bone and the bone becomes unable to heal.   The second is intertrochanteric hip fractures which are not quite as severe since they are a fracture of the hip bone but not affecting the ball and socket joint. 

Causes of a broken hip

• Fall (mostly elderly)
• Automobile accident
• Tumor (a tumor in the hip area can cause the bone to weaken and break)

The symptoms of a broken hip are usually:

• Severe pain in the hip area
• Possibly pain in the upper leg
• Not being able to support weight
• Not being able to move well or stand

Treatment for a broken hip

The treatment for a broken hip depends on the type of fracture and the age of the patient.  Almost all broken hips require surgery.  If the fracture is a femoral neck fracture the patient will most likely undergo a partial hip replacement.  In a partial hip replacement the ball of the ball and socket joint is removed and replaced with a metal piece.   If the patient is young other measures will try to be taken.  Partial hip replacements work best when someone is not as active as a young adult. Another option for a femoral neck fracture, as with a young person, is to pin the fractured hip with screws.  This works best when the bones are aligned.  If the bone will not heal due to the disrupted blood flow, a hip replacement will become necessary.   Many times with an intertrochanteric hip fracture the fracture is able to be repaired with metal plates and screws.  The recovery time and the type of therapy will depend on the person’s age, health, and the treatment they have undergone.  It will take months to recover from a broken hip surgery but usually within a day the person can be up with a physical therapist.

Compensation for a broken hip

Many people are unaware that they can claim compensation for a broken or fractured bone but help is at hand. Whether you have been injured at work, on the road, playing sport, in hospital, in the street, in a shop, an office, commercial or public building, at home, a friend's house or any kind of slip, trip or fall.

In addition to claiming compensation for you or a loved ones suffering, you may also be able to claim for medical expenses, lost wages and any other out of pocket expenses.  For an idea of what you could get see some typical compensation amounts.

Pinstripe make it easy for you to claim compensation. All you need to do is complete the simple online form opposite and the experienced and friendly claims team will handle it from there. It's that easy!