Mumbai: Woman suffers severe hip fracture; doctors help her walk again

Image for representational purpose only. Photo Courtesy: File pic

A simple fall inside her home changed everything for a 69-year-old woman. While it initally appeared to be a routine household accident, it soon turned into a medical emergency when she found herself unable to stand or bear weight on her right leg. Doctors in Thane came to her rescue to help her walk again while dealing with their complex medical history.

The pain was excruciating, and even the slightest movement became impossible. For the family, the concern extended far beyond the fracture itself.

The woman was diabetic, hypertensive and had a long history of serious heart disease. Over the years, she had undergone three separate coronary angioplasty procedures and was living with nine stents in her heart. Any major surgery carried significant risk.

Investigations revealed a comminuted displaced intertrochanteric fracture of the femur - a severe type of hip fracture commonly seen in elderly individuals after a fall. In such injuries, the bone breaks into multiple fragments, making treatment considerably more challenging.

The situation was further complicated by severe osteoporosis, which had weakened the bone quality substantially.

For many elderly patients, a fracture of this nature can be life-altering.

Without timely surgical intervention, prolonged bed rest often becomes unavoidable. Doctors say extended immobility can trigger a cascade of complications, including lung infections, blood clots, urinary tract infections, bed sores, muscle wasting and loss of independence. In older adults with multiple medical conditions, these complications can sometimes prove more dangerous than the fracture itself.

The patient's condition required a careful balancing act. While surgery was necessary to restore mobility, her cardiac history meant that the procedure itself carried considerable risk.

She underwent extensive evaluation by cardiologists, diabetologists, anaesthetists and critical care specialists before a treatment plan could be finalised.

The case was managed by Dr. Sanjeev Jain, chief of Orthopaedics (HOD) & Joint Replacement Surgeon at KIMS Hospitals in Thane.

"These fractures are among the most challenging injuries we encounter in elderly patients. The fracture pattern was highly unstable, the bone quality was poor because of osteoporosis, and the patient had significant medical co-morbidities. The objective was not merely to fix the fracture but to choose a treatment that would allow immediate mobilisation while maintaining the highest level of safety," said Dr Jain.

After detailed planning, the team decided to perform a hip replacement procedure rather than conventional fixation.

According to Dr Jain, the decision was influenced by the extent of bone damage and the patient's overall condition.

"In patients with severe osteoporosis and extensive fracture comminution, conventional fixation may not always provide the stability required for early weight-bearing. We opted for a specialised uncemented long-stem hip replacement designed to achieve stable fixation and facilitate early rehabilitation," he explained.

The surgery was successfully completed using a specialised long diaphyseal-fit stem along with a bigger size femoral head construct to minimise the risk of post-operative hip instability.

Given her extensive cardiac history, the patient was closely monitored in the intensive care unit for the first 24 hours after surgery.

The outcome was encouraging. Within a day of the operation, she was able to stand and walk with full weight-bearing support. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital.

Today, she has regained mobility and continues to recover well. Dr. Jain believes that timely surgery and early mobilisation remain critical in such cases.

"The biggest mistake is assuming that elderly patients with multiple health problems should avoid surgery at all costs. In many cases, the real danger lies in keeping them bedridden for weeks. The focus should be on selecting the right procedure, ensuring meticulous planning and providing comprehensive multidisciplinary support so that patients can return to mobility as early as possible," he said.

The case highlights an increasingly important challenge in ageing populations, where seemingly minor falls can result in devastating fractures with potentially life-changing consequences. Specialists advise senior citizens and their families not to ignore persistent hip pain, inability to walk after a fall, or sudden loss of mobility, as early intervention often plays a crucial role in recovery.

For this 69-year-old woman, a fall that could have led to permanent dependence instead became the beginning of recovery - one step at a time.