Hip fractures

Summary

A meta-analysis of cluster randomized studies of hip protectors among the elderly indicate that, for those living in institutional care, providing hip protectors may reduce the risk of hip fractures. However, this was not confirmed in a recent large randomized trial. This association was not observed in studies in which randomization was by the individual patient. Use of hip protectors was not associated with a reduction in risk for pelvic fracture or mortality; in fact, there is recent evidence to suggest that hip protectors may increase the incidence of pelvic fractures.