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The ordeal of a fractured hip can be a life-ending event for an elderly person. Hip fractures can be deadly, and even otherwise minor fractures can require lengthy hospitalization and rehabilitation, as well as the permanent use of an assistive walking device.
Among the elderly—those age 65 and older—hip fractures are typically caused by slip and fall accidents. In fact, the National Safety Council (NSC) cites slip, trip and fall incidents as the leading cause of injury-related deaths among the elderly.
Determining cause and responsibility for a fall that results in a hip fracture is often difficult. The Arizona nursing home abuse attorneys at Cullan & Cullan have the combined legal and medical experience to determine if your injury was the result of negligence.
Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents
Even obstacles that seem insignificant can cause severe injuries or wrongful death. Some common causes of slip and fall accidents in nursing homes include:
- Leaving an elderly person unattended
- Damaged or obstructed walkways
- Inadequate lighting
- Missing or damaged handrails
- Wet or slippery floors with no warning signs
If you or a loved one sustained a hip injury in a nursing home fall that may have been caused by negligence, it’s critical to contact an experienced nursing home attorney as soon as possible.
Treatment of Hip Fractures
Surgery is often necessary to repair a hip fracture. Depending upon the age of the patient and the specifics of the injury, there are two primary surgical methods used to repair hip fractures:
- Partial hip replacement (also known as hip hemiarthroplasty), in which the ball-and-socket joint of the hip is removed and surgeons insert a metal replacement
- Hip pinning, in which metal pins are inserted into the broken bone pieces in order to hold them securely together
If you or a family member sustained a hip fracture that may have been caused by nursing home negligence, please contact the Arizona nursing home abuse lawyers at Cullan & Cullan.