Environmental hazards and hip fractures
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Updated: Nov 4, 2026

Method and Instrumented Fixture for Femoral Fracture Testing in a Sideways Fall-on-the-Hip Position
Published on: August 17, 2017
M J Parker1, T R Twemlow, G A Pryor
1Orthopaedic Department, Peterborough District Hospital.
Abstract:
The type of environmental hazards implicated in the aetiology of a consecutive series of 787 hip-fracture patients was prospectively studied. Most falls occurred between 09 h 00 and midday and there was no seasonal variation. Fifty-one different environmental hazards were implicated in the aetiology of the fall for 58% of patients. The nature of environmental hazards was diverse, implying that measures to reduce the risk of falls due to these factors are unlikely to lead to a significant reduction in the incidence of hip fractures.
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