Hip fracture is known to be the most common fracture. It is especially prevalent in older people. After age 65, human bones become weak and it almost requires surgery. This injury can often be life-threatening. Thus it needs to be treated quickly. Before taking any decision let’s get to know about how to diagnose the hip fracture.
During a physical exam, the doctor will ask for your complete medical history. Also, the physician will look for any injuries commonly associated with hip fractures. To determine whether an open fracture has occurred, the doctor will examine any lacerations and determine how stable the hip is will press on the front and back of the pelvic area. To look for haemorrhage that may signify bone penetration into the rectum, a rectal examination also may be performed.
Tests for a broken hip:-
X-ray
X-radiation or commonly known as X-ray uses invisible high energy electromagnetic radiation to produce images of internal tissues, bones and organs onto film. It is usually sufficient for the majority of fractures.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
It is a medical imaging technique that uses a combination of large magnets, radio frequencies and a computer. It is used to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body; especially useful for assessing soft tissue around injured joints and bones.
Computed tomography scan (CT scan)
It uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to produce 3D cross-sectional images, both horizontally and vertically, of the affected area, including bones, fat, soft tissue.
Bone scan
It uses a radioactive dye to visualize the bones. It’s different from plain x-rays or CT in that because of a nuclear medicine imaging technique, it shows bone metabolism and cell activity in the bones. Bone scans are used to assess including cancer of the bone or metastasis, location of bone inflammation and fractures, and bone infection.
This is how one can diagnose a hip fracture. We recommend you to visit a doctor instead of doing it by yourself. We hope this information adds value to your knowledge. Watch out this space for more such information. Greetings for SYS Medtech International PVT. LTD.