Broken bone in the hip, a key health problem among the
elderly, usually due to a fall or other kind of trauma involving direct impact to
the hip bone which has been weakened by oste oporosis. The part of the hip most
often broken is the greater trochanter of the femur.
In older people the leading risk factors for falls and, hence, for hip fractures
include weakness; gait and balance disorders; functional, visual or cognitive impairment;
and the side effects of drugs; together with the presence of hazards in the environment
such as icy pavements or objects on the floor.
More than 300,000 people 65 years old or older are hospitalized yearly because
of hip fractures in the US. About a quarter survive for less than a year because
of the fracture or its complications and most of those who survive have substantial
reductions in in their ability to walk and their ability to function in daily life.
Exercise programs and inspection and control of hazards in the living environment
significantly reduce the incidence of falls. Osteoporosis can be treated (with a
variety of medications, such as estrogen, calcium, vitamin D, and bisphosphonates).
The use of impact-absorbing hip protectors for those at high risk for hip fractures
appears to be dramatically helpful. Hip pads can eliminate up to 84% of hip fractures,
according to a report in The New England Journal of Medicine. This has been called
"a breakthrough in fracture prevention."
References:
Kannus P et al. Prevention of Hip Fracture in Elderly People with Use of
a Hip Protector. N Engl J Med 2000;343:1506-13.
Rubinstein L. Hip Protectors -- A Breakthrough in Fracture Prevention. N
Engl J Med 2000;343:1562-63.
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