The short term outcome of elderly patients with hip fractures

A prospective outcome study was performed of 100 hip fracture patients at an urban medical center in the United States. After hospitalization 19% were discharged to a rehabilitation facility and 59% were discharged home. At a mean follow-up of 8 months, 81% of patients lived at home, compared to 89% who lived at home prior to the fracture. At follow-up 71% of the patients were able to walk outside with one cane or no aids at all, and 81% were able to perform basic activities of daily living. Half of all patients did not require any home assistance at follow-up. Ten patients had died at follow-up. The goal of operatively treating the patient with a hip fracture is fixation of the fracture with a return to the patient's pre-fracture functional ability. This study illustrates that patients with hip fractures can be effectively treated and discharged home or to a short-term rehabilitation facility with restoration of their pre-fracture functional status.