Understanding Hip Fractures: Types, Causes & Treatments

January 15, 2026 | Personal Injury

Your hip is a ball-and-socket joint that allows you the flexibility you need to perform a variety of movements. If you suffer an injury that causes a fracture, that socket can stop functioning as it should, and a variety of other complications can arise that make even the simplest movements excruciatingly painful. 

Hip fractures are difficult to treat, and it can take time for the hip to start working as it used to. But what types of hip fractures occur, and what treatments are available?

Types of Hip Fractures and Their Causes

Hip fractures can vary based on where the break occurs and how the injury happened. Each type presents different challenges and recovery concerns.

Common types of hip fractures include:

Intracapsular Fractures (Femoral Neck Fractures)

These breaks occur one to two inches from the hip joint. They are most common in older adults with osteoporosis but can also result from trauma such as car accidents or falls. These fractures can be serious because they may disrupt blood flow to the head of the femur.

Extracapsular Fractures

These fractures occur between the femoral neck and the lesser trochanter, usually three to four inches from the joint. While they typically do not interrupt circulation like intracapsular fractures, they can cause severe pain, stiffness, and soft tissue damage.

Acetabular Fractures

Acetabular fractures involve a break in the hip socket itself. They are less common and usually result from high-impact incidents, such as high-speed vehicle collisions. Acetabular fractures often require longer healing times and more extensive treatment.

Periprosthetic Hip Fractures

These fractures occur in the bone surrounding a hip implant, often affecting the femur or the bone around the hip implant. They can result from slip and fall accidents, falls from heights, or collisions and typically cause intense pain, stiffness, and an inability to bear weight.

Understanding the type of hip fracture involved helps guide treatment decisions and highlights why these injuries often require prompt and specialized medical care.

Treating Hip Fractures

Most hip fractures require surgery, often performed as soon as possible to prevent further joint instability. The type of surgery depends on the location and severity of the fracture.

In some cases, surgeons perform hip repair surgery, often called hip pinning. This involves using metal screws, plates, or rods to hold the bones in place while they heal.

When the fracture is too severe for repair, a hip replacement may be necessary. A partial replacement replaces the upper portion of the thighbone, while a total replacement replaces both the thighbone and the hip socket.

After surgery, doctors usually encourage early movement to support healing and reduce the risk of complications such as blood clots.

Is Filing a Personal Injury Claim an Option?

If you sustained a hip fracture as a result of another party’s negligence or wrongful conduct, you may be able to file a claim against them. You will have to establish that they owed you a responsibility to behave as another reasonable person would have and that they breached that duty. To have the best chance of succeeding, you need an attorney to assist you. 

Contact the Harrisburg Personal Injury Lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates for Help Today

If you’ve suffered a hip fracture due to someone else’s negligence in Harrisburg, PA, Marzzacco Niven & Associates can help. Our Harrisburg personal injury attorneys will know what types of evidence can make the most crucial difference, and they’ll fight on your behalf for the compensation you deserve. 

Contact us today for a free consultation.

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