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Falls and Hip Fractures
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Fall prevention is vitally important because studies have shown that over 90% of the 350,000 hip fractures, that occur annually in the United States, are the direct result of a fall. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 650,000 annual hip fractures are projected, by the year 2050, in the United States alone. They go on to state that the rate of hip fractures increases after age 50 and it doubles every 5 to 6 years.
In a recent article the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons outlined some of the reasons why hip fractures are very serious.
- · Only 25 percent of hip fracture patients will make a full recovery; 40 percent will require nursing home care; 50 percent will need a cane or walker; and 24 percent of those over age 50 will die within 12 months.
- · Nearly one-in-four hip fracture patients will die within 12 months after the injury because of complications related to the injury and the recovery period.
- · The cost of hip fracture care averages $33,000 per patient.
- · There were 168,106 total hip replacements performed in the U.S. in 1999.
Hip Fractures Article
How to Reduce Your Risk of Falling
(For a free brochure on falls prevention, call the Academy’s public service telephone number (800) 824-BONES or send a stamped, self addressed business size envelope to Prevent Injuries America!-falls, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, P.O. Box 1998, Des Plaines, Ill. 60017
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