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Am Fam Physician. 2007;75(4):472

Author disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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.

Email letter submissions to afplet@aafp.org. Letters should be fewer than 400 words and limited to six references, one table or figure, and three authors. Letters submitted for publication in AFP must not be submitted to any other publication. Letters may be edited to meet style and space requirements.

This series is coordinated by Kenny Lin, MD, MPH, deputy editor.

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Copyright © 2007 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

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