The Utility of a Comprehensive Hip Fracture Program: Readmission Rates May Not Be a Reasonable Marker of Success

Introduction This study evaluates the effectiveness of a comprehensive hip fracture protocol, with a focus on specific readmission reasons. Methods A retrospective cohort study of hip fracture patients aged 60 and older who underwent surgery before (control) and after (intervention) implementation of a comprehensive hip fracture program. Objectives included identifying readmission reasons and rates, time to operating room (TOR), length of stay (LOS), reoperation, and mortality rates. Logistic regression was utilized to determine significance. Results One hundred and sixty-three patients (control) vs. 238 patients (intervention) were identified. The intervention group had higher odds of 90-day readmission for a medical reason (OR = 1.735, p = 0.028). Thirty-three out of forty-two patients (79%) in the control group and 68/78 patients (87%) in the intervention group were readmitted secondary to a medical reason (pulmonary etiology being the most common). Surgical-related readmissions (surgical site infections and dislocations are most common) were lower in the intervention group compared with the control group, with 10/78 patients (13%) and 9/42 patients (21%), respectively. Twenty-four-hour TOR was achieved in 125 patients (52.5%) in the intervention group vs. 70 patients (42.9%) in the control group. LOS was shorter by 1.1 days for the intervention group (p = 0.010). Mortality was lower in the intervention group. Discussion A comprehensive hip fracture protocol can reduce LOS, TOR, mortality rate, and even surgical-related readmissions. Readmission rates are mainly due to medical problems, which may be unavoidable and thus may not be an adequate hip fracture effectiveness metric. Potential areas of improvement and additional study may include closer internal medicine oversight and primary care follow-up after discharge.