Health & Healing
How long does a hip fracture take to heal?
Estimated wait
~5 months
Based on published sources
By case
- Faster cases~4 months
- Average cases~5 months
- Slower casesUp to 6 months
In older or frailer people, and where osteoporosis or long bed rest is involved, full recovery can take more than a year — this is a serious injury in the elderly, not a routine fracture. Not to be confused with the length of the operation itself, which is a few hours at most — see hip replacement surgery. General information, not medical advice.
Recovery from a femoral neck (hip) fracture takes roughly 4 to 6 months in people under 65 who are otherwise healthy. The hospital stay after surgery averages around twelve days, and older patients usually move on to inpatient rehabilitation from there.
More details
The fracture is almost always treated surgically — either fixed with screws or, more often in older patients, by replacing the hip joint. The rehabilitation, not the operation, is what determines how well mobility comes back.
Last updated: 20 Jul 2026
Information is for general knowledge only.