Review: hip protectors reduce hip fractures after falls in elderly people living in institutions or supported home environments
QUESTION: Do external hip pads or protectors reduce hip fractures after falls in elderly people?
Data sources
Studies were identified by searching the Cochrane Musculoskeletal Injuries Group specialised register (December 2000), the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (Issue 4, 2000), Medline (1966–2000), EMBASE/Excerpta Medica (1988–2000), CINAHL (1982–2000); reviewing bibliographies of retrieved articles; and contacting authors of identified trials.
Study selection
Randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials that compared use of hip protectors with no protectors in elderly people living in the community or in institutional care. Outcomes of interest were incidence of hip fractures, pubic rami and other pelvic fractures, other fractures, reported falls, mortality, patient compliance, and complications.
Data extraction
Data were extracted on participants, intervention (type of hip protector), outcomes, and length of follow up. 2 reviewers independently assessed the methodological quality of each trial on the basis of 10 criteria (main criterion was concealment of allocation). Maximum quality score was 12.
Main results
7 trials …
