Medical experts outline prevention strategies for elderly hip fractures

Medical experts emphasize that hip fractures in the elderly are not an inevitable consequence of aging and can be mitigated through proactive measures. Specialists from Liv Hospital, including Internal Medicine and Geriatrics Expert Dr. Fatma Gülçin Özalp and Orthopedics and Traumatology Expert Prof. Dr. Erden Ertürer, highlight that risk assessment must go beyond bone density.

A comprehensive evaluation should include muscle strength, balance, nutrition, medication use, vision issues, and environmental fall risks. Factors such as a history of previous fractures, family history, low body weight, smoking, or long-term corticosteroid use can increase vulnerability. Because osteoporosis often progresses without symptoms, regular bone health monitoring is essential.

To prevent falls, experts recommend environmental adjustments such as removing slippery rugs, securing loose cables, using non-slip mats in bathrooms, improving nighttime lighting, and wearing appropriate footwear. Maintaining strong leg muscles through exercise and ensuring proper nutrition are also critical components of prevention and maintaining independence.