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Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Method and Instrumented Fixture for Femoral Fracture Testing in a Sideways Fall-on-the-Hip Position
Published on: August 17, 2017
Hip fractures in Italy: 2000-2005 extension study
P Piscitelli1, F Gimigliano, S Gatto
1University of Florence, Florence, Italy. prisco.piscitelli@tiscali.it
Summary:
A total of 507,671 people > or =65 experienced hip fractures between 2000 and 2005. In 2005, 94,471 people > or =65 were hospitalized due to hip fractures, corresponding to a 28.5% increase over 6 years. Most fractures occurred in patients > or =75 (82.9%; n = 420,890; +16% across 6 years), particularly in women (78.2%; n = 396,967).
Introduction:
We aimed to analyze incidence and costs of hip fractures in Italy over the last 6 years.
Methods:
We analyzed the national hospitalization and DRG databases concerning fractures occurred in people > or =65 between 2000 and 2005.
Results:
A total of 507,671 people > or =65 experienced hip fractures across 6 years, resulting in about 120,000 deaths. In year 2005 94,471 people aged > or =65 were hospitalized due to hip fractures, corresponding to a 28.5% increase over 6 years. The majority of hip fractures occurred in patients > or =75 (82.9%; n = 420,890; +16% across 6 years) and particularly in women (78.2%; n = 396,967). Among women, 84.2% of fractures (n = 334,223; +28.0% over 6 years) were experienced by patients > or =75, which is known to be the age group with the highest prevalence of osteoporosis, accounting for 68.6% of the overall observed increase in the total number of fractures. Hip fractures in men > or =75 increased by 33.1% (up to 16,540). Hospitalization costs increased across the six examined years (+36.1%) reaching 467 million euros in 2005, while rehabilitation costs rose up to 531 million in the same year.
Conclusions:
Hip fractures of the elderly are increasing and represent a major health problem in industrialized countries such as Italy.

