Hip fractures in primary health care. Evaluation of a rehabilitation programme

The routine follow-up of hip fracture patients was transferred from the Orthopaedic Department, Lund University Hospital, to the primary health care districts in 1985. The medical state and social functions of all 298 patients during the first 12 months of the follow-up rehabilitation programme were registered. Before fracture, 61% lived in their own homes, 22% in old people's homes, and 14% in geriatric hospitals or nursing homes. Four months after fracture, 13% were dead, 47% were living in their own homes, 14% were in old people's homes, 25% in geriatric hospitals or nursing homes, while the rest were in other types of institutional residence. Of patients coming from their own homes, 75% were back at home four months after fracture and their social and functional status were as good as before fracture. The study has shown that routine check-ups at the orthopaedic department can be omitted. Follow-up in primary health care without radiography and orthopaedic expertise gives equally good functional results as in previous studies, provided that patients with pain and walking problems from the hip are guaranteed rapid specialist treatment.