Review: evidence from individually randomised trials shows that hip protectors do not reduce hip fractures in elderly people
Q Do hip pads or protectors worn about the hip reduce the risk of hip fracture in elderly people?
METHODS
Data sources:
Cochrane Musculoskeletal Injuries Group trials register (February 2004), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled trials (Issue 1, 2004), Medline (1966 to February 2004), EMBASE/Excerpta Medica (1988 to week 8, 2004), CINAHL (1982 to February 2004); reference lists of relevant articles; and contact with trialists. Ongoing trials were identified in the National Research Register and Current Controlled Trials (both accessed February 2004).
Study selection and assessment:
randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs that compared hip protectors with no hip protectors for reducing the incidence of hip fracture in elderly people living in the community or in institutional care. Methodological quality of individual studies was assessed based on 10 aspects of methodology (eg, method of randomisation, allocation concealment, and minimum follow up of 12 mo), yielding a maximum score of 12. …
