What are the first signs of hip fracture?

Pain may be felt in the hip, groin, upper thigh, or sometimes the knee. The leg can look shorter or turn outward, but these changes are not always present. A person may be unable to walk, may limp, or may hold the hip still because movement hurts. In some older adults, a small fracture causes less dramatic pain and shows up as a new loss of mobility or increasing discomfort after a fall.

Keep the person still and supported. Do not ask them to walk, test the hip repeatedly, or try to straighten the leg. Call emergency services for a fall with severe pain or inability to stand. Avoid food and drink until medical advice is given, because an operation may be needed. A clinician will examine the leg and arrange imaging; an X-ray may not show every early or subtle fracture.

Treat sudden hip pain with inability to bear weight as an emergency, particularly after a fall. Seek immediate help for a cold or numb foot, marked deformity, heavy bleeding, confusion, or trouble breathing. Even milder pain needs prompt assessment when walking has changed after an injury, because delaying care can make movement and recovery more difficult.

Ask which imaging is needed, whether the fracture is stable, how pain and movement will be managed, and whether surgery or protected weight-bearing is appropriate. Also ask about bone health and the rehabilitation plan after treatment.