Is there pain with movement in hip fractures?

Is there pain with movement in hip fractures?

• A. No pain with movement.
• B. Pain only at rest.
• C. Pain only with extreme heat.
• D. Yes, there is pain with movement.

Answer: (D)

In a hip fracture, moving the leg is painful because the broken bone ends irritate the surrounding tissues, including the periosteum and joint structures. Even passive movement or attempting to bear weight causes sharp, often severe pain as the fragments rub and stretch irritated tissues. While there can be some pain at rest, especially if the fracture is displaced, the hallmark is that pain is elicited by movement or attempting to move the limb. This distinguishes a hip fracture from conditions where movement isn’t painful or where pain is only present with non-movement factors (like heat).

In a hip fracture, moving the leg is painful because the broken bone ends irritate the surrounding tissues, including the periosteum and joint structures. Even passive movement or attempting to bear weight causes sharp, often severe pain as the fragments rub and stretch irritated tissues. While there can be some pain at rest, especially if the fracture is displaced, the hallmark is that pain is elicited by movement or attempting to move the limb. This distinguishes a hip fracture from conditions where movement isn’t painful or where pain is only present with non-movement factors (like heat).