Damage to bone tissue in the neck of the thigh can disable a person for the longest term. In the event of an injury, not only mobility of the limb is lost, but muscles will gradually atrophy as a result of loss of contraction ability. Let’s find out what measures rehabilitation requires after hip fracture surgery.
Risk group
According to statistics, rehabilitation is most often required after surgery for a femoral neck fracture in old age. Usually, it is people who suffer similar injuries in years. This is due to the development of senile osteoporosis, the main manifestation of which are structural changes in bone tissue. Who else may need rehabilitation after hip fracture surgery? Traumatologist reviews indicate that at risk are also people who lead a sedentary lifestyle and suffer from a decrease in muscle mass. It is necessary for a weakened person to accidentally fall on his side, as the probability of a fracture increases immediately. Although the injury in this case may not be the most serious.
Fractures of the femoral neck are also affected by people who suffer from the development of malignant tumors. Metastases often migrate to bone tissue, causing its weakening and destruction. Injuries of this nature can occur here only because the person is embarrassed, sharply turned to the side or stumbled. A problem such as rehabilitation after hip fracture surgery mainly affects women. Representatives of the weaker sex are several times more likely to suffer injuries of a presented nature. As for women of retirement age, in the latter, the risk of hip fracture increases 3-4 times more often than men.
Symptoms
Like any other bone damage, the presented trauma is accompanied by the development of a serious pain syndrome. The main place of localization of discomfort is the inguinal region. Here the pain is progressive in nature. With a fracture of the femoral neck, the leg is visually shortened. This leads to a reflex contraction of muscle mass. Tense muscles automatically pull the limb up, reducing its length. A direct sign of injury is the inability to raise the leg in a supine position. At the same time, the foot can turn out unnaturally. In the best case, it will only be possible to bend the limb slightly in the knee.
Sometimes with a fracture of the femoral neck, the pain is quite tolerable. While maintaining the ability to lean on the leg, the victim may suggest that discomfort is caused by a dislocation or a bruise. The result of untimely identification of the problem and the lack of appropriate therapy often leads to complications in the form of suppuration, inflammation of the soft tissues, necrosis of bones and joints. To avoid disability, at the first suspicion of a hip fracture it is recommended to contact a hospital.
Features of patient care
Rehabilitation after a hip fracture operation at home requires that people around pay special attention to the needs of the victim. The defining moment is the fight against the occurrence of pressure sores. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to resort to a periodic change in the position of the human body in bed. Stacking the mattress on a rigid frame, using a bed with an anti-decubitus system also helps to avoid the development of complications.
Since rehabilitation after hip fracture surgery at home implies an absolute restriction of body mobility, the patient needs help in realizing physiological needs. Not least are measures aimed at body hygiene. The area of the groin and armpits, natural bends, folds on the body should be regularly washed, wiped with antiseptic agents, treated with powders.
Consequences of injury
As practice shows, in the best case, rehabilitation after a femoral neck fracture in a sanatorium takes at least six months. Limited body mobility, inability to independently meet natural needs, lack of full communication with others - all this can cause unbearable discomfort to the victim. The physical consequences of a hip fracture include:
- the occurrence of pressure sores;
- development of intestinal atony;
- venous blood stasis;
- pneumonia;
- vascular thrombosis.
As for the mental consequences, the most frequent manifestations here are protracted depression, neurosis. All this does not allow a person to return to their previous full-fledged life for a long time, even if successful rehabilitation was performed after surgery for a hip fracture. The victim literally has to learn to master his own body and emotions again.
Surgical treatment
It is extremely rare to eliminate the consequences of a femoral neck fracture without surgery. The specific features of blood circulation in the presented area of the skeletal apparatus complicate bone fusion. With a femoral neck fracture, there are several ways to quickly restore tissue integrity:
- Osteosynthesis Surgical intervention of this plan involves fixation of the bone in the area of the fracture. As the elements that connect the damaged areas of the fabric, metal screws are used. The method does not guarantee successful bone fusion in patients after the age of 60-65 years. Therefore, they resort to such an operation to treat young people. In this case, how much does rehabilitation after hip fracture surgery take? A set of exercises allows you to restore limb mobility for 4-5 months.
- Endoprosthetics. This is an surgical intervention aimed at replacing a part of the hip joint with an implant. Here, both the head of the bone and the joint can undergo prosthetics. To perform the procedure, high-strength implants made of titanium or cobalt-chromium are used. Currently, this option is almost the only chance for people in old age to restore the normal functionality of the limb. About a week after the endoprosthetics, a person can already perform simple leg movements, and in some cases move around with crutches.
Physiotherapy
Regular physical activity is a prerequisite for victims who expect a speedy recovery of activity. During therapy, specialists develop a whole range of motor and breathing exercises, with the help of which rehabilitation occurs after the operation of a femoral neck fracture. The transition to the cane with the gradual complication of training here is possible within a few months from the start of the rehabilitation program.
Physiotherapy
Physical methods of treatment are an integral part of measures aimed at recovering from a hip fracture. Their use helps to eliminate puffiness, fight infections, heal postoperative wounds, and restore normal blood circulation in the injured limb. During rehabilitation, the following physiotherapy methods are used: UHF, electrophoresis, paraffin baths, magnetic therapy, mud therapy and balneotherapy.
Nutrition
Quite often, long-term rehabilitation after surgery for a hip fracture reduces a person’s interest in the outside world. As a result, the victim has a loss of appetite. For this reason, a special diet is required here. The food that is offered to the patient should not only be diverse, but also be tasty, nutritious and high-calorie. The main attention should be paid to foods rich in calcium and vitamins, which are required for the speedy restoration of bone tissue. Proper rehabilitation after a hip fracture involves refusing food that could potentially cause bloating, constipation, or diarrhea in a patient. The use of fermented milk products, in particular, cottage cheese, helps to avoid such manifestations.
Massage
Massage procedures are a fairly effective rehabilitation after hip fracture surgery. How is the recovery going? First of all, the victim is prescribed a daily study of the muscles of a healthy leg. This approach to rehabilitation allows you to activate the reflex stabilization of blood supply in damaged tissues. If the victim’s leg is stretched, resort to a light massage using spiral rubbing, stroking touches around the entire circumference of the limb. Regular massage helps:
- Eliminate the effect of muscle constriction.
- Saturation of tissues with oxygen and their supply of nutrients.
- Prevent the development of muscle atrophy.
- Activation of regenerative processes in bone tissue.
- Decrease in a pain syndrome.
- Prevention of possible complications at the end of the rehabilitation period.
Pain medication support
In the process of rehabilitation, the victim has to overcome a whole lot of pain. To avoid discomfort during the recovery period, the patient is prescribed to take effective analgesics. If the pain syndrome is intolerable, local anesthesia is prescribed in the form of injections intramuscularly.
Prevention
To avoid injury, people in old age are encouraged to move with a cane or special walkers that help maintain balance. As for the strengthening of bone tissue, medications with calcium content can come to the rescue here. Along with this, it is extremely important for older people to exercise physical activity. Moderate, regular loads on the musculoskeletal system contribute to its strengthening, regardless of age.
Finally
As practice shows, the timing of successful rehabilitation after a femoral neck injury depends on the effectiveness of treatment methods and the competent development of a treatment program. It also matters how timely measures were taken to restore mobility of the limb. Rehabilitation should begin about 2-3 days after the operation. To consolidate the results, it may be necessary to undergo several consecutive courses of rehabilitation therapy.