Rehabiliation of Fractures of the Hip
David X. Cifu, M.D.
Abstract
A full 95% of hip fractures occur in people age 50 and older, and it is estimated that 250,000 hip fractures occur each year in people older than 65. The incidence of hip fractures in the United States is approximately 80 per 100,000, and it increases with increasing
age, doubling with every 507 years over age 60. The number of Americans 65 and older increased from 3 million in 1900 to more than 12 million in 1985 and is projected to increase to 28 million by the year 2000. The fasted growing segment of the population is composed of
people who are 85 and older, and is anticipated the will number 5.6 million by the year 2000. Not only is there a greater proportion of people 65 and older, but these people are also tending to stay increasingly active and thus may be more prone to accidents and falls.
This increase in the number of "vigorous" older adults, along with advances in medical science that allow the "frail" elderly to live longer and have increased survivability after motor vehicle trauma and falls, has resulted in a greater number of
older adults with hip fractures. Risk factors for hip fracture include increased age, increased incidence of falls (falls account for nearly 90% of hip fractures in older adults), increased osteoporosis, female gender, Caucasian race, prior hip fractures, Alzheimer's
dementia, and low-calcium diet.
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