[Results of rehabilitation on quality of walking and outcome in elderly patients following femoral neck fracture. Development after one year].

OBJECTIVES

To examine effects of coordinated multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation for older patients with hip fractures.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

187 (42 men and 147 women: mean age 80.9 +/- 8.4 years) admitted with a diagnosis of fracture neck of femur. Before fracture 183 patients were living in their own house. We examine medical state before fracture, type of fracture, type of surgery, walking performance at hospital discharge and at one year, destination at this discharge, living location and quality of life at one year.

RESULTS

The length stay after intracapsular fracture and prosthesis is significatively lower (p<0.01). At discharge 28% were walking alone, 38% with stick, 17% with technical aid, 8% with human aid, 2% were bedridden and 7% were dead. After hospitalisation 7% were dead, 70% were living in their own homes, 18% were in old people's homes and 6% in another hospital. One year after fracture, 19% were dead, 65% were living in their own homes, 16% were in old people's homes. Older age, medical state before fracture and male gender was found to increase mortality risk following hip fracture (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Hip fracture is a major cause of morbidity in older people and its impact, both on the individual and to society is substantial. Many people do not return to their pre-fracture life style. Coordinated multidisciplinary care of patients with fractured neck of femur seems essential.