The lifetime prevalence of hip fracture in the U.S. is 10% for men and 20% for women. Incidence is expected to continue to rise, driven by an increasing elderly population. Even with today’s surgical repair techniques and post-operative care, at 6 months postinjury, only half of patients can perform their pre-fracture daily living activities.

At 1 year after hip fracture, older adults are five times more likely to be institutionalized than age-matched controls without hip fracture, and mmortality rates resulting from hip fracture range from 12% to 37% within the first year. In parallel, the cost to the U.S. healthcare system is also staggering, and amounts to between $10 and $15 billion annually. [Read more…]