Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
A Simple Critical-sized Femoral Defect Model in Mice
Published on: March 15, 2015
Is 48 h a critical cut-off point for mortality in geriatric hip fractures?
Ahmet Emre Paksoy1, Kerim Öner2, Ferdi Polat3
1Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
Insights
This study found no significant difference in one-year mortality for geriatric hip fracture patients operated on within 48 hours versus 48-96 hours after admission. Timely surgery for hip fractures did not impact patient survival rates in this cohort.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Public Health
Background:
- Hip fractures are a common and serious injury in the elderly population.
- Surgical timing is a critical factor in managing hip fractures, with potential impacts on patient outcomes.
- Previous studies suggest benefits of early surgical intervention, but evidence in specific geriatric cohorts requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of surgical timing (within 48 hours vs. 48-96 hours) on one-year mortality in geriatric hip fracture patients.
- To determine if delaying surgery beyond 48 hours affects survival rates in this patient group.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective evaluation of 194 geriatric hip fracture patients operated on between 2016 and 2018.
- Data collected from hospital databases and the Turkish Ministry of Health Death Notification System.
- Comparison of first-year mortality rates between patients operated within 48 hours and those operated between 48-96 hours.
Main Results:
- The mean time to surgery was 33.90 ± 1.95 hours.
- Overall one-year mortality was 32% (62 out of 194 patients).
- No significant difference in mean survival times or one-year mortality was found between patients operated within 48 hours and those operated between 48-96 hours (P = 0.283). Cox regression analysis also showed no independent effect of time to operation on survival (P = 0.200).
Conclusions:
- Delaying hip fracture surgery in geriatric patients from within 48 hours to 48-96 hours did not significantly increase one-year mortality.
- While early surgery is often recommended, this study suggests that a delay up to 96 hours may not negatively impact survival in this specific patient population.
- Further research may be warranted to explore other potential outcomes beyond mortality.
Background/Aim:
In this study, our objective was to evaluate the mortality in geriatric hip fracture patients who were operated within 48 h after admission or after the 48thh.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 194 patients who had undergone surgery for hip fracture between 2016 and 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. Patient information was obtained from the hospital’s database using the ICD codes 81.52, 82.00–82.09, and 82.10. Radiological examination reports were collected from the patient files. Information on mortality was obtained from the Death Notification System of the Turkish Ministry of Health. First-year mortality rates of patients operated within 48 h (Group 1) and those operated at 48–96 h (Group 2) were compared.
Results:
The mean duration between admission to the hospital and surgical intervention was 33.90 ± 1.95 h (3–96 h). The mean total hospitalization time was 7.29 ± 1.53 days (2–36 days). Of the patients, 62 (32%) died within one year after the operation. The mean survival times for patients operated ≤48 h or >48 h were 8.47 ± 1.90 and 6.57 ± 2.59 months, respectively (Z = 1.074, P = 0.283). There was no significant correlation between survival time and the time delay before the operation (r = –0.103, P = 0.153). Additionally, the Cox regression analysis, including age (years), ASA (grade 3 vs. 2), time to operation (h), and days spent in the ICU, demonstrated no significant independent effect of the time to operation on survival (P = 0.200).
Conclusion:
Although shortening the time to surgery may have some rationale, we did not find any difference in patients operated before 48 h compared to 48–96 h concerning mortality.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion
01:18Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism