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Hip fractures in the elderly
1Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Mail Code OP 31, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland 97201, USA. ellist@ohsu.edu
Current Women'S Health Reports
|January 11, 2003
Abstract:
The incidence of hip fractures in the elderly is increasing worldwide, with 650,000 fractures expected in the United States by the year 2050. The mechanism of injury is typically a ground-level fall. Efforts at prevention focus on reducing risk factors by aggressive medical management of comorbidities, use of protective garments, and modification of the individual's environment to lessen the chance of falling. Treatment is associated with an elevated mortality rate and compromised functional outcome.