UCSF

Hip fractures, among the most common geriatric injuries, are associated with adverse patient outcomes and significant costs. The incidence of these fractures continues to rise with an aging population worldwide. While many factors that negatively impact patient outcomes are nonmodifiable, others, which include pre- and postoperative medical management, timing of surgical stabilization, and fracture fixation methods, are modifiable and have been shown to affect outcomes. Treatment pathways are dependent upon available resources and established systems, and comparative guidelines from different regions and countries are not well documented. This special issue seeks to highlight regional differences in hip fracture care globally and represents a collaborative work of member societies of the International Orthopaedic Trauma Association, an international association of orthopaedic societies dedicated to the promotion of musculoskeletal trauma care through advancements in patient care, research, and education. The expectation is that better understanding these differences will aid efforts to better understand, improve, and standardize existing approaches to hip fracture management worldwide.