Prolonged pre-operative hospital stay as a predictive factor for early outcomes and mortality after geriatric hip fracture surgery: a single institution open prospective cohort study.

Abstract

The aim of this open prospective cohort study was to determine if a prolonged pre-operative hospital stay is a true predictor of higher morbidity or mortality in geriatric patients with hip fractures. We analysed early outcome parameters, such as functional independence measure (FIM), at discharge and fourmonths post-operatively, peri-operative nonsurgical complications, intra-hospital and one year mortality compared with prolonged pre-operative hospital stay in 308 patients from a continuous cohort of 344. Average pre-operative stay was 8.39±5.80days. Delaying surgery for >72hours was independently predictive for general complications and lower motor FIM gain at fourmonths. All findings worsen progressively after the fifth day of delay. Pre-operative period was not found to be an independent predictor of mortality. In all observed outcome parameters except mortality, pre-operative delay >72hours was shown to be a true predictive factor.