Proximal femoral fractures in psychiatric patients

During an 8-year period, 122 inpatients of a psychiatric hospital sustained fractures of the proximal part of the femur. They were treated by operative as well as by conservative methods and their subsequent mobility, morbidity and mortality have been reviewed. The results suggest that these patients are best managed within their familiar environment, that femoral head replacement arthroplasty is appropriate for high fractures and that the prevention of bedsores in conservatively treated patients is of great importance.