A hip fracture is a break in the upper part of the thigh bone (femur) that joins with the pelvis to form the hip joint. A hip fracture almost always is a complete break in the bone (from one side to the other), but in some cases, it can be a partial break (like a crack in the bone). Women have two to three times as many hip fractures as men, and white, post-menopausal women have a 1 in 7 chance of hip fracture during a lifetime. The rate of hip fracture increases at age 50, doubling every five to six years. Nearly one-half of women who reach age 90 have suffered a hip fracture.

Causes
Ninety percent of the 350,000 hip fractures that occur each year in the U.S. are the result of a fall. By the year 2050, there will be an estimated 650,000 hip fractures annually; nearly 1,800 hip fractures a day. As we get older, our bones naturally become weaker and can break more easily. The main cause of weak bones is age and a condition called osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones become thin and brittle, making them more likely to break (fracture). In children and young adults, hip fractures are caused most often by a sudden, severe injury, such as a vehicle accident, sports injury, or a high-impact fall.

Symptoms
The most common symptoms of hip fracture are severe pain in the hip or lower groin, or difficulty walking after a fall. In some cases, there may be only thigh or knee pain, and walking may still be possible with partial fractures.

Treatment
The treatment of hip fractures is aimed at returning a person to regain his or her previous level of function and activity. The most effective and common treatment for a hip fracture is surgery. In some cases, surgery may not be done if a person has other health problems that make surgery too risky, or if a person is already confined to a bed or a wheelchair. But the best chance to return most people to his or her normal daily activities is usually through surgery.