Hip fractures in Hungary and Sweden - differences in treatment and rehabilitation

Data of 1,337 consecutive hip fracture patients were registered during 1 year within a prospective comparative multicenter study comparing osteosynthesis techniques and rehabilitation results in Budapest, Hungary, in Sundsvall, northern Sweden, and in Lund, southern Sweden. In Budapest the mean age was 4-5 years lower than in Sweden, and more patients lived in their own home (91% versus 70% and 62%). Less intracapsular (41% versus 54% and 54%) and more trochanteric fractures (52% versus 40% and 35%) were observed in Budapest. Many more Hungarian patients returned home (68% versus 54% and 33%); however, their mortality rate 4 months later significantly exceeded that of the Swedish centres (24% versus 15% and 13%), and more had severe pain in the operated hip (27% versus 17% and 15%). Four months after double nail osteosynthesis of displaced cervical fractures, more patients (28%) had severe hip pain than after hemiarthroplasty (16%) in Budapest as compared to Lund or Sundsvall (19% and 22%). Mortality rate after 4 months following hemiarthroplasty and nailing (36% and 20%) was significantly higher than in the Swedish centres (14% and 11%).