Hip fractures after stroke and their prevention

Increased fracture risk is a recognized complication following stroke. Bone loss following a hemiplegic stroke has been proposed as a major risk factor for post-stroke hip fracture, with a recent focus on the development of novel therapeutic measures to prevent bone loss and fractures after stroke. We briefly review the literature on the epidemiology and pathophysiology of bone loss and hip fracture after stroke, and then critically review recent studies on preventive strategies.