Oropharyngeal dysphagia in an elderly post-operative hip fracture population

Love et al (2013) claim new findings linking intervention for hip fracture with dysphagia. This commentary reflects on whether this represents novel data or simply reiterates previously recognised patterns, not necessarily specific to surgical hip-repair. Issues are addressed in the context of prevalence of dysphagia in community and care-home living older people; effects of operative procedures on swallowing; methods for screening for dysphagia; and methodological decisions made by Love et al. The role of dysphagia screening policies is briefly considered.