The fragile elderly hip: mechanisms associated with age-related loss of strength and toughness.

Journal article

Every hip fracture begins with a microscopic crack, which enlarges explosively over microseconds. Most hip fractures in the elderly occur on falling from standing height, usually sideways or backwards. The typically moderate level of trauma very rarely causes fracture in younger people. Here, this paradox is traced to the decline of multiple protective mechanisms at many length scales from nanometres to that of the whole femur. With normal ageing, the femoral neck asymmetrically and progressi...

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Authors: Reeve, J; Loveridge, N

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Bone
• Volume: 61
• Pages: 138-148
• Publication date: 2014-04-01
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2013.12.034
• EISSN: 1873-2763
• ISSN: 8756-3282
• Language: English
• Keywords: Bone and Bones; Aged; Aging; Femur Neck; Hip Fractures; Humans