AAOS Clinical Practice Guideline Summary: Management of Hip Fractures in Older Adults

Abstract

Fragility hip fractures are a major public health problem with a notable effect on quality of life for patients and their families. Management of Hip Fractures in Older Adults: Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline serves as current evidence-based practice guidelines for orthopaedic surgeons in the management of this common fracture and is based on a systematic review of published studies examining the surgical treatment of hip fractures in adults aged 55 years and older (older adults). The lower age limit for the patient population was set at 55 years but was also required to have a median age of 65 years. All aspects of care for older patients at risk of hip fracture or who have sustained a hip fracture could not be addressed within the scope of this guideline, including important topics of prevention of primary or secondary hip fractures or posthospital rehabilitation. This guideline contains 16 recommendations and three options to assist orthopaedic surgeons and all qualified physicians managing patients older than 55 years with hip fractures based on the best current available evidence. It is also intended to serve as an information resource for professional healthcare practitioners and developers of practice guidelines and recommendations. In addition to providing pragmatic practice recommendations, this guideline also highlights gaps in the literature and informs areas for future research and quality measure development.