Hip fractures--treatment and early complications

A prospective follow-up study was performed on 282 patients with hip fractures with respect to early complications and their possible relation to patient or treatment variables. A hip fracture patient needed at least 1-2 hours in the operating theatre (length of anaesthesia), while the operating time was half or less. The operative trauma, measured in operating time and blood loss, was greater in patients with trochanteric fractures than in those with fractures of the femoral neck. Reduction was difficult and only half the internal fixations were satisfactory, as judged from X-rays at the end of the operation. The immediate results of the operations were satisfactory in the trochanteric group, but some problems were encountered in the group with fractures of the femoral neck. Complications were frequent and interrelated. At multiple discriminant analysis higher age, delay of operation, trochanteric fracture and long operating time were often found to be negative factors. Bladder catheterization increased the risk of urinary tract infection to some degree.