A "hip" fracture is actually a fracture of the:

• A. Femoral shaft.
• B. Proximal femur.
• C. Pubic symphysis.
• D. Pelvic girdle.

Answer: (B)

Hip fractures involve a break in the proximal part of the femur—the area around the hip joint (the femoral neck and the trochanteric region). The hip joint is where the femoral head fits into the acetabulum of the pelvis, so a fracture in this region is termed a hip fracture. The femoral shaft is farther down the thigh, so a break there isn’t called a hip fracture. The pubic symphysis and the pelvic girdle refer to parts of the pelvis, not the proximal femur, so they aren’t the location implied by a hip fracture. In clinical practice, hip fractures are typically proximal femur fractures and are especially common in older adults due to osteoporosis, often requiring surgical treatment.