Hip Fractures in the Elderly

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of adults over age 65 fall each year.  Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths in elderly patients and the death rate from falls increased steadily from 1988-2010.

In 2011, more than 1.6 million seniors were seen in emergency departments for fall injuries, resulting in 388,000 hospitalizations. Most of the fall-related hospitalizations were related to hip fractures. It is estimated that 98% of hip fractures are in the elderly.

Hip fractures in children, adolescents and adults under age 65 are rare and are most likely a result of high-speed sports collisions, motor vehicle collisions or falls from a significant height.

Significance of Hip Fractures in the Elderly
There are a number of reasons why hip fractures in the elderly are so significant:

• They cause more deaths than fractures from other falls.
• They lead to the most severe health complications during hospitalization and rehabilitation.
• They lead to reduced quality of life through prolonged hospitalization, institutionalization, loss of mobility and loss of confidence.
• After treatment and rehabilitation, about half of hip fracture patients are no longer able to walk independently.

Things you can do include:

• If you are in a home and see a risk factor like poor lighting or a loose area rug, point out the risk to the patient and family bystanders.
• Encourage patients to stay physically active.
• Ask your relatives if they have a home medical alert service they can use to call for help.
• Encourage the family to install grab rails in the bathroom.
• Instruct the family member on proper use of assistive devices, like canes and walkers.

Remove tripping hazards like throw rugs and clutter in walkways; install nonslip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors; install grab bars next to the toilet and in the tub or shower; install handrails on both sides of stairways; and improve lighting throughout the home.  Reducing risks reduces the potential for hip fractures.