Information for Consumers - Hip Fracture (Suspected)

This article tells you about suspected hip fracture, including what imaging tests you may need to have.

What is a hip fracture?

A hip fracture is when the bone in the top part of your leg breaks (femur). Hip fractures are usually caused by trauma, most commonly falls. Fractures are one cause of hip pain.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will discuss the signs and symptoms of your hip pain. Your doctor may request an x-ray if:

he/she thinks a fracture may be causing your hip pain, or
your pain does not get better with simple treatment measures

If your x-ray shows a fracture, further imaging may be needed for treatment. If the x-ray does not show a fracture, and your doctor still thinks you might have a fracture, he/she may request a MRI scan, nuclear medicine bone scan, CT scan or repeat x-ray.

Results

A Radiology doctor will look at your scans and write a report for your doctor.

Further information

For more detailed information, please access InsideRadiology at: www.insideradiology.com.au

This is a resource produced especially for consumers by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists: www.ranzcr.edu.au

A guide to gathering information that you may need for making informed decisions is published by the Consumers' Health Council of Australia at: https://chf.org.au

If you would like to look at other relevant articles, please access the following:

Or access the Diagnostic Imaging Pathways website at: radiologyacrossborders.org/diagnostic_imaging_pathways/consumer-info

Or if you have questions or require any other information please contact your Doctor.

Consumer participation

This information has been reviewed by representatives from the following groups:

Aboriginal people
People with disabilities
Seniors
CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse)
The Health Consumers' Council

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Disclaimer

This article is intended as general information only. The Diagnostic Imaging Pathways team and Radiology Across Borders will not accept any liability arising from its use. The information is kept as up-to-date and accurate as possible. Please be warned that it is always subject to change.