Overview of classification and surgical management of hip fractures

Abstract

Hip fractures represent one of the biggest healthcare problems and an epidemic is expected to arise due to the ageing population. Various classifications have been proposed over the years which failed to achieve high reliability in defining the whole spectrum of proximal femoral fracture deformity. Nevertheless, orthopaedic surgeons commonly communicate using the most popular differentiation which divides hip fractures to intracapsular or extracapsular, with further subclassification to displaced or undisplaced. Based on this broad categorization, sliding screw devices or cephalomedullary systems dominate the fixation of extracapsular fractures, whereas intracapsular fractures are treated with screw/plate fixation or arthroplasty. Early surgical treatment facilitates best outcomes and return to pre-injury level of activity. Hip fracture pathology covers a huge part of routine orthopaedic practice and orthopaedic surgeons at every level should be well versed on them. In this review we will summarize all the basic and current evidence regarding the classification and treatment of hip fractures.