Why I Am To Have A Total Hip But I Am Told The First Fracture Needs To Heal First ?

Posted on Tue, 23 Mar 2021

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 Answered on

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 Last reviewed on

Question : I incurred a 5th metatarsal fracture in the 8th of January.
The etiology is stepping hard on a rock.
I am to have a total hip but I am told the first fracture needs to heal first . Why?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
The fracture would have healed by now.

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing to us.
A fractured 5th metatarsal usually takes 4-6 weeks to heal. Your fracture would have healed by now and you can plan for the hip replacement surgery now. An X- ray will help in confirmation. It is suggested to plan the elective surgery like hip replacement in a healthy individual for an early recovery.
Hope this answer is helpful.
Any further questions are welcome.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar