Common Questions
Do hip protectors prevent fractures?
The use of hip protectors (tights with padded shields covering both hips that patients wear under their clothing) was recently found in a large Finnish trial to reduce the rate of hip fracture (1). 
Elderly ambulatory patients (n=1,801) with at least one risk factor for falls were randomized to either a pad-wearing group or a control group. The rate of hip fracture in the pad-wearing group was 2.1 percent per year, compared to 4.6 percent in the control group (p=0.008). When patients experienced a fall, their risk of hip fracture was 80 percent less if a hip protector was worn at the time.
Patient acceptability can be a barrier to the widespread use of hip protectors, however. Though the undergarment is comfortable to wear, the size of the pads creates a bulging appearance to both hips. Research is underway to develop materials that have similar shock-absorbing qualities, but are less bulky in size (2).
- Kannus P, Parkkari J, Niemi S, et al. Prevention of hip fracture in elderly people with use of a hip protector.. N Engl J Med 2000; 343: 1506-13.
- Dubey A, Koval KJ, Zuckerman JD. Hip fracture prevention: A review. Am J Orthop 1998; 6: 407-12.