Prevention of Hip Fractures by External Hip Protectors

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Worldwide, the annual number of hip fractures is expected to increase from 1.66 million in 1990 to 6.26 million in 2050.1 This is caused by not only the increasing number of elderly persons, but also an increase in the age-adjusted incidence.2-6 The risk for hip fracture is higher among elderly persons who are institutionalized than those living independently.7 The consequences of hip fractures can be severe. During the year following a hip fracture, the mortality rate is about 17% to 33%; after 1 year, 25% to 33% of patients are severely disabled or cannot walk at all.8-11 A promising intervention in the prevention of hip fractures is the hip protector.12 When a person falls on the hip, the hip protector is designed to absorb and/or shunt away the impact toward the soft tissues to keep the force on the trochanter below the fracture threshold.