Mortality and rehabilitation following hip fracture. A study of 202 elderly patients

We retrospectively analyzed 202 patients admitted between 1990 and 1994 with femoral neck or trochanteric fracture. The age of the patients ranged between 52 and 95 years and all 202 patients were surgically managed, with either screw fixation, screw and plate fixation or hemiarthroplasty, depending upon the fracture type and the patient's age. Overall, mortality was 18% during the first year, being higher in the elderly, and in patients with cardiorespiratory diseases. In addition, if the operation was delayed more than 3 days or if hemiarthroplasty was performed, the rate of death was higher. Rehabilitation was difficult if patient had cardiorespiratory diseases or had difficulty in walking before the operation.