The World Hip Trauma Evaluation (WHiTE) platform trial: a framework for randomized comparisons of interventions for fragility hip fracture.

Aims: Hip fracture is one of the biggest challenges facing patients and healthcare systems. Worldwide, there are currently 1.3 million hip fractures per year, projected to rise to more than six million by 2050. This protocol describes a platform trial framework, designed to efficiently deliver multiple randomized comparisons of interventions for patients with a fragility hip fracture. Methods: All patients aged 60 years and over with a hip fracture presenting to the World Hip Trauma Evaluation (WHiTE) recruitment centres will be considered for eligibility for each of the randomized comparisons appended to the platform at the time of recruitment. They will be offered the opportunity to take part in any or all of the randomized comparisons for which they are eligible. Comparisons may be contemporaneous or distributed throughout the treatment pathway. This master protocol describes the trial procedures, core dataset, and documentation. It describes those components of the research process which will be consistent between randomized comparisons. Where additional procedures are planned, specific to a randomized comparison, these will be described in a separate appendix protocol for that randomized comparison. Conclusion: The WHiTE platform trial will provide randomized evidence regarding the clinical and cost-effectiveness of interventions to improve outcomes for patients with fragility hip fracture. Findings will inform national and international policy and practice guidelines for the management of patients with a hip fracture.