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Hip Fracture Program
Chemical
s t.
Dependency
j o s e p h ’ s
m e d i c a l
Program
c e n t e r
The Hip
Fracture Program
Dedicated exclusively to the care of
patients with hip fractures.
Our comprehensive and
multidisciplinary approach
includes emergency room doctors,
orthopedic surgeons, hospitalists,
nurses, anesthesiology, pharmacy,
physical therapy, and social workers
all working together to provide you
the highest level of care available.
WHAT TO EXPECT
DURING YOUR STAY
Admissions— You may have been
admitted through the emergency
department using a fast track
admission procedure or “directlyadmitted” from a nursing home
or assisted living facility. Either
admission process ensures you
receive care as quickly as possible.
In preparation for surgery soon
after admission, you will be
evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon,
as well as a hospitalist. With both
pain management medicine and early
surgical treatment we aim to help
provide relief from fracture pains.
Anesthesia— Our medical doctors
of anesthesiology are highly skilled
specialists in treating patients
with fractures. Anesthesia
may be
general or spinal. Your
anesthesiologist, orthopedic surgeon
and hospitalist, will help you choose
the most appropriate anesthetic for
your surgery.
Surgery— Your surgery is performed
right here at Essentia Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center in our
fully equipped operating rooms. Our
complete inventory includes the latest
in fracture repair technology and
replacement parts to treat essentially
any type of fracture. Surgical times
vary and depend on the complexity
of the fracture. However, the average
time spent in the operating room is
between one-to-three hours.
Post-Operative Care— Most
patients leave the operating room
and spend some time in the
recovery room, as they wake up
from anesthesia. Soon after, they
are brought to the surgical floor
for care. Here, pain management is
also an important focus. Care for
each patient is co-managed by the
orthopedic surgeon and hospitalist.
A social worker, physical therapist,
occupational therapist, and nurses
visit each patient on a regular basis.
Physical Therapy— Physical therapy
is generally started on the first day
after surgery, and is done daily.
Early mobilization after a fracture
to a chair or to a standing position
is essential to begin recovering
after surgery.
Discharge Process— In most cases,
our patients are discharged to
a nursing home to continue
rehabilitation and physical therapy.
Patients who came to us from a
nursing home will likely return to the
same facility. A patient who has been
residing in an asisted living facility
will likely need to go to a nursing
home for a period of time until they
can make the transition back to
assisted living. Patients who live in
their own homes will usually need
a period of time in a nursing home
until they recover enough to take
care of themselves and return home.
Outcomes— Full recovery times
vary by individual and take
anywhere from three-to-six
months and up to a year or more
to fully recover from the injury. Some
people who fracture their hip or
femur are not able to return to their
pre-injury level of movement and
independence. This can represent
a significant life changing event.
However, with proper care and
physical rehabilitation, it is possible
to return to pre-injury levels of
function and independence.
What are the hip and femur?
The femur is the largest bone in the
body extending from the hip joint to
the knee joint. The hip joint is a ball
and socket joint and the knee is a
complex hinged type joint. The femur
provides the structural support of the
human body.
What is a fracture?
There are different types of fractures.
An undisplaced fracture (the bone has
not separated) or a partially displaced
fracture (the bone has partially
separated). Displaced fractures are
where the two ends of the bone are no
longer in contact and these are more
significant injuries. Hip fractures can
vary in classification depending on
where the bone is broken. The femur
fracture may involve an area on the
neck of the femur, the upper portion of
the femur, or the mid or lower portion
of the femur. Treatment will depend on
where the fracture is and how much
displacement is present. Almost all hip
and femur fractures require surgery.
How do hip fractures occur?
Most hip fractures occur when a
person falls as the result of loss
of balance, medication side effects,
poor vision, impaired mobility, or
environmental problems. Many people
are afraid of falling, which causes
them to voluntarily restrict their
activity level, which actually leads to
muscle weakness, poor balance, and
joint stiffness. The best prevention
against falling is staying active and
in good physical condition. Now
that you have had this fracture, it is
important that your primary medical
doctor is aware so that they can
evaluate the strength of your bones
and recommend treatment if necessary
to help prevent future fractures.
Essentia Health
St. Joseph’s Medical Center
Hip Fracture Program
523 North Third Street, Brainerd, MN 56401
218.828.7332
EssentiaHealth.org
01.2015