What is the highest risk associated with a hip fracture?

The highest risk associated with a hip fracture is thromboembolism. After a hip fracture, patients are often immobilized due to pain and limited mobility, leading to increased venous stasis in the lower limbs. This stasis can result in the formation of blood clots, particularly in the deep veins of the legs, which can then dislodge and travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism. This condition is serious and can be life-threatening.

The other risks such as impaired mobility, acute pain, and severe bleeding are indeed significant concerns following a hip fracture but do not carry the same level of immediate life-threatening risk as thromboembolism. Impaired mobility impacts rehabilitation and quality of life; acute pain can complicate recovery; and severe bleeding, while a critical medical issue, is less common with hip fractures. Therefore, the association of thromboembolism with immobility after a hip fracture places it as the highest risk in this context.