[Long-term outcome of hip-operated geriatric patients]

A follow-up of patients with hip fractures discharged from a geriatric rehabilitation unit was conducted by means of a questionnaire sent to the former patients, in case of non-compliance calling to ask for participation in the study and completion of the questionnaire. 234 patients were examined, 8 of whom died during rehabilitation. From 91.8% (n = 206) discharged after rehabilitation information about their fate was obtained, from 98.7% (n = 223) if they were still alive. On discharge, mean age was 81 (+/- 9) years, time of follow up was 2.7 years after discharge. 34.5% had died, 36% of them within the first six months. Of those surviving, 93% still lived in the living conditions they had been discharged to. Comparing the activities of daily living of the survivors as assessed with a modified Barthel index (max. 110 points), at discharge by the occupational therapists, at follow up by the patients themselves, only a slight decrease was seen (95.5 +/- 19.2 points at discharge; 88.5 +/- 24.0 points at follow up; p < 0.01).