Quality and safety

Abstract

Fractures of the proximal femur in elderly patients represent a significant burden on society for a number of reasons. The worldwide population is aging at an increasing rate, and with age, the rate of fragility fractures, including fractures about the hip, increases in prevalence. The morbidity and mortality associated with hip fractures is derived from a number of different factors that affect the diagnosis, treatment, and overall care of patients who sustain these injuries. In order to optimize patient outcomes, minimize health-care costs, and decrease the burden of disease associated with these injuries, it is important to understand all of the various factors that play a role in shaping the natural history, pathophysiology, and treatment strategies. This chapter will summarize the recent literature and evidence-based recommendations pertaining to the overall care of patients who present to the hospital with a hip fracture or are at risk of sustaining a hip fracture, to assist any health-care provider involved in the management of these patients in providing the best care possible.