Fall Prevention

With increasing age, ‘simple’ falls from standing height or less become more and more frequent (1). About one-third of people aged 65 or over fall at least once a year (2, 3). In patients with osteoporosis, a condition known to increase bone fragility, falls contribute to numerous appendicular and proximal fractures (4). Hip fracture is the most serious resulting complication because the mortality rate increases from 12% to20% when compared to people of the same age and sex who have not sustained such a fracture (5). Moreover, among people who survive surgical intervention for an osteoporotic hip fracture only one-third are restored to their former physical status (6). Consequently, preventing falls is important at any age but is considered crucial for those who have osteoporosis.

Risk factors for falls in elderly people (4):

Strategies to prevent falls

Studies have shown that external hip protectors markedly decrease hip fractures in institutionalised patients when it is worn at the time of the event. These shells of propylene or polyethylene are designed to absorb part of the energy from the impact of falling and shunt the energy toward the short tissues around the hip (7). However, there is poor compliance among patients to wear them because they find them to be uncomfortable and not practical (8).

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