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Preparing for your appointment

By Mayo Clinic staff

If you've fallen or otherwise injured your hip, call 911 or emergency medical help. Wait for paramedics to move you safely.

Have a family member or friend come with you, if possible. Someone who accompanies you can help soak up all the information provided during your evaluation.

What to expect
Rescue and hospital staff are likely to ask these and similar questions:

  • Have you recently fallen or had another injury to your hip?
  • What are your symptoms?
  • How severe is your pain?
  • Can you put weight on your leg on the side of your injured hip?
  • Have you been diagnosed with any other medical conditions?
  • Have you had a bone density test?
  • What medications are you currently taking, including vitamins and supplements?
  • Do you use alcohol?
  • Do you smoke?
  • Do you use recreational drugs?
  • Have you had surgery in the past? Were there any problems?
  • Do any of your first-degree relatives — such as a parent or sibling — have a history of bone fractures or disorders, such as osteoporosis?
  • Are you currently living independently?
Tests and diagnosis Complications
References
  1. Hip fractures among older adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/adulthipfx.htm. Accessed Nov. 24, 2009.
  2. Hip Fractures. Merck Manual of Health and Aging. http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_ha/sec3/ch23/ch23b.html. Accessed Nov. 24, 2009.
  3. Burroughs KE. Hip fractures in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 24, 2009.
  4. Hip fractures. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00392. Accessed Nov. 24, 2009.
  5. Osteoporosis Prevention: Who's at risk. National Osteoporosis Foundation. http://www.nof.org/prevention/risk.htm. Accessed Nov. 24, 2009.
  6. Kiel DP. Falls in older persons: Risk factors and patient evaluation. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 24, 2009.
  7. Kiel DP. Prevention of falls and complications of falls in older persons. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 24, 2009.
  8. Live it safe: Prevent broken hips. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00305. Accessed Nov. 24, 2009.
  9. LaVelle DG. Fractures and dislocations of the hip. In: Canale ST, et al. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/172615262-3/0/1584/390.html?tocnode=55689267&fromURL=390.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-03329-9..50055-6--cesec1_2948. Accessed Nov. 24, 2009.
  10. Morris VA, et al. Medical management of the patient with hip fracture. In: Browner BD, et al. Skeletal Trauma. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/172615262-4/919970406/1867/52.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2220-6..10047-7--s0240_2185. Accessed Nov. 24, 2009.
  11. Auron-Gomez M, et al. Medical management of hip fracture. Clinics in geriatric. 2008;24:701.
  12. Osteoporosis overview. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/default.asp. Accessed Nov. 24, 2009.
  13. Nutrition and bone health. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/Nutrition/default.asp. Accessed Nov. 24, 2009.
  14. Baumgaertner MR, et al. Intertrochanteric hip fractures. In: Browner BD, et al. Skeletal Trauma. 4h ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/175438862-12/929829121/1867/54.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2220-6..10049-0--s0300_237. Accessed Dec. 15, 2009.
  15. Takahashi PY (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 2, 2009.
DS00185 Jan. 9, 2010

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