Hip
fracture: identifying and managing risk factors
This article, the first
in a two-part series, offers a comprehensive overview of hip fracture and how
to prevent it. It comes with a self-assessment enabling you to test your knowledge after reading it.
Hip
fractures, also known as proximal femoral fractures, are defined as a
fracture between the femoral head and 5cm below the trochanter
In younger patients, hip fractures are typically
caused by high-energy or high-velocity trauma (such as from motor vehicle
accidents or falls from a significant height). In more than 50% of patients,
they are associated with other injuries (Davidovitch et al, 2010), such as
fractures of the femoral shaft.
In older patients, fractures also occur from
mechanical forces that would not result in fracture in a younger person, such
as low-level trauma or low-velocity impact. These fractures are referred to as
fragility fractures, defined as fractures that occur from a level of impact or
force equivalent to a fall from a standing height or lower
Conclusion :
Hip fractures are common injuries that are associated
with significant morbidity and mortality. The main predisposing factors are
osteoporosis and a history of falls. To minimise the risk of hip fracture, it
is essential that nurses identify risk factors and actively seek to reduce the
potential for harm. Bone health assessment and falls prevention are important
aspects of hip fracture prevention (NICE, 2018).
Nurses in all settings are ideally placed to identify
people at risk of hip fracture and facilitate collaboration with
multidisciplinary and specialist teams. They contribute greatly to risk
assessment, education and health promotion, and some initiate and monitor
medical and lifestyle interventions.
We are cordially inviting to the 20th International
Conference on Clinical Nursing and Practice which is scheduled in February
18-19, 2019 Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium | Singapore
