Hip Protectors Ineffective at Preventing Hip Fractures

to the editor: The article “Management of Hip Fracture: The Family Physician's Role,”¹ in American Family Physician, referenced a meta-analysis² that purportedly showed “that hip protectors may help prevent hip fractures.”¹ I stopped recommending these devices several years ago after reading a number of studies that did not support their use; I was hopeful that new data showed efficacy for what appears to be a nifty idea. When I looked up the supporting information, I was crestfallen to see a Cochrane publication² concluding that there is no benefit from using the protectors—or so it seemed from my review of that publication.

editor's note: This letter was sent to the authors of “Management of Hip Fracture: the Family Physician's Role,” who stated that they agreed with Dr. Ippel about the lack of clinically significant benefit from using hip protectors in nursing home residents.