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How long does it take a non displaced hip fracture to heal?
I am an 82 year old male in relative good health that fell and had a non displaced fracture on October 22nd. I have been on toe touch weight bearing since. My ortho dr. will not let me put any additional weight bearing on until 8 weeks minimum have passed. Is this normal? He claims this is the recommended time for the fracture to heal. I have had no pain for over three weeks, and my physical therapist tells me I should be at the point where extra added weight bearing should be added.
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@cblum Here comes the detested answer - "It depends" - Your ortho doc knows the exact placement of the fracture and the status of your bones. He also knows that as our bodies age, healing is slower. 8 weeks is only 2 weeks away - can it hurt to be cautious for a little longer?
Let me share a little anecdote - I had complex ("massive" according to the surgery notes) rotator cuff repair last October. My surgeon and PT in MN put me on an extremely conservative recovery plan. When I took it to the PT where I live in winter, he scoffed at it and said I should be doing much more. I pushed back, and ended up following the surgeon's plan. I completed PT in August with better strength and range of motion than before the injury that caused the surgery. And the enforced rest allowed healing of more minor tears in the unoperated shoulder to heal! (My surgeon has a failure rate of under 10% compared to typical rates of 25-50%, so I felt like his was a far more reliable opinion.)
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1 ReactionThe information below is based on guidelines from Orthopaedic surgens--not my opinion.
A nondisplaced hip fracture in someone your age typically takes 6–12 weeks to heal, so your orthopedic surgeon’s recommendation of 8 weeks of toe-touch weight bearing is very much within the normal and conservative range.
A few things to keep in mind:
• Healing time isn’t just about pain.
It’s completely possible to feel no pain while the bone is still not strong enough to handle full weight. Pain is an unreliable indicator of healing in hip fractures.
• Surgeons base restrictions on the specific fracture pattern and your imaging.
Even nondisplaced fractures vary. Some are at higher risk of shifting if you put weight on them too early. Your surgeon has the advantage of seeing your X-rays and knowing exactly where the fracture line is.
• PT guidelines are more general.
Physical therapists are excellent for rehab, but they usually follow the surgeon’s weight-bearing instructions rather than determining them. PTs often focus on muscle strength and mobility, which can improve even while the bone is still healing.
• Eight weeks is a common benchmark.
For older adults, many orthopedists err on the side of caution because the cost of a fracture displacing is very high—it could mean surgery that might otherwise be avoided.
If you feel ready for more weight, it’s absolutely reasonable to ask your surgeon whether an updated X-ray might show enough healing to advance your weight-bearing sooner.
@cblum at least if you don’t follow your surgeons instructions you have no one else to blame but yourself. You should be thankful that you’re not having any pain for 82 years young. Hip fractures at that age are life ending injuries once you go into inpatient rehab. Sounds like your non-displaced fracture didn’t require that. Don’t push it and better safe than sorry.