Outcome after hip fracture

Results
Comment

Bandolier previously reported on prevention of falls in the elderly ( issue 20 ), and on the first report of the East Anglian Audit on hip fracture ( issue 25 ). A follow-up report tells us the consequences of a broken hip at 90 days [1].

Briefly, the audit examined all patients admitted with fractured neck of femur in eight hospitals in a period in 1992. Patients were interviewed in hospital soon after admission and at three months about activities of daily living, residential status and use of community services.

Results

Data were available on 580 patients. The overall 90-day mortality was 18%.

Fewer than a quarter of patients both survived and returned to their pre-fracture level of function by 90 days.
Of survivors, less than one-third returned to their pre-fracture level of function.
Of survivors, 42% were receiving extra help with at least half of their daily living activities.
Of survivors, 21% required an increased level of residential or hospital care.
Of patients who returned home 35% required additional community health and social service visits.

Comment

Real data, together with some interesting analysis on those features which may help to make outcomes better.

Reference:

C Laxton, C Freeman, C Todd et al. Morbidity at 3 months after hip fracture: data from the East Anglian audit. Health Trends 1997 29: 55-60.

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