Effect of external hip protectors on hip fractures

Most hip fractures seem to be related to trauma near the hip, so a controlled trial was conducted to investigate the effect of external hip protectors on the prevention of such fracture in residents of a nursing home. 10 of the 28 wards in the nursing home were randomised to receive external hip protectors; thus 167 women and 80 men were given protectors and 277 women and 141 men no protectors. A fall register was set up for 2 treatment wards (45 residents) and 2 control wards (76 residents). There were 8 hip and 15 non-hip fractures in the hip-protector group and 31 hip and 27 non-hip fractures in the control group. The relative risk of hip fractures among women and men in the intervention group was 0.44 (95% CI 0.21-0.94). None of the 8 residents in the intervention group who had a hip fracture was wearing the device at the time of the fracture. 154 falls were registered and 20% of these falls produced a direct impact to the hip. In 25 falls direct impact to the hip was sustained at a time when hip protectors were not being worn, and 6 fractures were produced. The study indicates that external hip protectors can prevent hip fractures in nursing-home residents.