ABSTRACT
I. CLINICAL RELEVANCE A. Epidemiology Hip fractures are the most common fractures that affect survival and the quality of life of the geriatric patient. More than 300,000 hip fractures occur per year in the United States, and this number is expected to double by the year 2050 (1). Two-thirds of the patients will not return to their previous functional level, and approximately 40% will not survive more than 2 years after the fracture (2,3). Under the most favorable circumstances, a displaced hip fracture will lead the geriatric patient to a course that includes an immediate operation, ambulation on the first postoperative day, and a 3-to 12-month program of rehabilitation. Too often the hip fracture patient becomes engulfed by staggering problems, including perioperative complications, prolonged hospitalization, and expensive long-term supportive care. It has been estimated that the direct medical costs of hip fractures amount to more than $8 billion per year in the United States (4,5). A patient who survives the fracture but loses independent function will often have an immeasurable loss of self-esteem, especially when the patient perceives that they are a burden to loved ones and family.
