Hip Care
Dr. Henry Backe is an integral part of the Orthopaedic Specialty Group, P. C. team since 1997. Dr. Backe’ exceptional surgical skills are complemented by a personable style and dedication to the highest quality patient outcomes and satisfaction. He is a board certified orthopaedic surgeon and is fellowship trained in the area of trauma.
Hip Fractures
Hip Specialist In The Greater Fairfield & Shelton Areas
Orthopaedic trauma injuries are rarely anticipated and often require the skill of a trained surgeon on an emergency basis. Dr. Henry Backe is specially-trained in this area and has put hundreds of patients back to work and to daily activities. He is very comfortable in the emergency room and is adept at putting both patients and their families at ease during a very stressful time.
Dr. Backe is here for you!
FAQs on Hip Fractures
What Are Hip Fractures?
More than 300,000 Americans are hospitalized with hip fractures every year. A hip fracture is more common in people ages 65 and older. As people age, their bones gradually become less dense and, as a result, become weaker. Hip fractures can be caused by a fall, direct blow to the hip joint or simply by having weak bones from osteoporosis. In younger patients with stronger bones, more common causes of a broken hip may include high-impact injuries caused by car, motorcycle and biking accidents or work-related incidents.
Symptoms of a hip fracture include severe pain, immobility and bruising and swelling in the hip and leg area. In addition, the leg on the side of the fractured hip may be shorter and unable to hold weight.
When Dr. Backe examines a patient for fractures in the lower extremities, he looks for the following:
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Loss of range of motion
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Pain in the lower
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extremities
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Weakness in the lower
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extremities
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Open wounds
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Swelling
What Are The Symptoms of Hip Fractures?
A hip fracture typically causes pain, tenderness, bruising, swelling and some deformity of the hip. You may be unable to put weight on your leg on the side of the injured hip.
What Are The Treatment Options For Hip Fractures?
Treatment of a hip fracture almost always requires surgery. In some cases, such as a stress fracture of the hip, or in elderly patients who have sever medical problems, surgery may not be recommended.
Surgical treatment for hip fractures can involve one of the following: inserting metal screws to hold the fractured hip while it heals (called internal fixation), replacing the broken parts of the femur with a metal prosthesis (known as hemiarthroplasty), or completely replacing the hip with a prostheses. Dr. Backe is one of the few orthopedic surgeons in the Fairfield & Shelton Areas using the direct anterior approach, one of the newest minimally invasive techniques used in hip replacement surgery. This approach is from the anterior (front part of the body), and causes less tissue damage than the more traditional posterior (back) approach. After surgery, for a hip fracture, an extensive rehabilitation program is almost always necessary for a proper and speedy recovery.
