The Analysis Study of Utilization of Advanced Imaging for Detecting Radiographically Occult Hip Fractures in Elderly Patients : A Comprehensive Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: This study aims to assess the prevalence of radiographically occult hip fractures in elderly patients, identify the higher-risk subgroups, and evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CT and bone scanning in detecting occult fractures, using MRI as the reference standard. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, this systematic review focused exclusively on full-text articles published in English between 2014 and 2024. Result: The study conducted a comprehensive review of over 100 publications sourced from reputable databases, including ScienceDirect, SagePub, and PubMed. Following an initial screening, eight publications were identified as warranting more in-depth analysis. Consequently, a thorough review of these selected studies was performed to ensure a detailed and rigorous evaluation. Conclusion: High prevalence of occult surgical hip fractures in elderly patients was found in this study. It emphasizes the critical role of MRI in accurate diagnosis, recommending its use over CT and bone scanning to prevent missed fractures and improve patient outcomes.