Fracture Care · Hip & thigh
Hip fracture — Hip replacement (partial or total)
Femoral Neck Fracture — Hemiarthroplasty or Total Hip Replacement (Posterior Approach)
The condition
The femoral neck is the short segment of the thigh bone just below the ball of the hip. When it breaks and shifts, especially in older adults, the ball often loses its blood supply and is unlikely to heal if fixed. It causes groin or hip pain and makes standing or walking very hard.
The surgery
Through an incision on the back and side of the hip (posterior approach), the broken ball is removed and a stem is placed in the thigh bone. In a hemiarthroplasty, a metal ball sits in your own socket; in a total hip replacement, the socket is also lined with a new cup. The final plan is determined during surgery.
Recovery at a glance
- Weight-bearing
- Full weight as comfort allows with a walker, starting the day of or after surgery. Daily walking is your most important exercise.
- Hip precautions
- For 6 weeks, avoid bending the hip deeply while the knee crosses inward and turns in—such as a deep, low chair with knees together, crossing your legs, or twisting toward the surgical side. Stricter precautions only if your surgeon advises.
- Walking
- Walker for the first 2–6 weeks, then a cane as balance allows; the cane is stopped once the limp is gone. No driving while taking narcotic pain medication.
- Recovery
- Most reach their prior level of walking by ~12 weeks. Sudden groin pain with a shortened or turned-in leg—call us right away. Ask about a bone-density check.
A general guide. Your restrictions and timeline may change based on what is found and done at surgery.
Risks & benefits
Benefits: Replacing the broken ball relieves pain and lets you walk on the leg right away. Risks are uncommon and include infection, blood clots, hip dislocation (most likely in the first weeks), a leg-length difference, fracture around the implant, infection of the implant, loosening or socket wear over time, confusion after anesthesia, injury to nearby structures (such as the sciatic nerve or blood vessels), stiffness, persistent pain, and the need for further surgery. These will be reviewed with you in detail before surgery.
Patient Surgical Information
Open, save or print. Bring your questions to your pre-op visit.
Before & after every surgery