Operation in hip fracture patients--analysis of the time factor.

The time that elapsed between the fracture, arrival at the hospital and subsequent surgery was studied retrospectively in 274 hip fracture patients. In 8.8 per cent of the patients the time of fracture could not be established. In 14.6 per cent there was delay before arrival at the hospital. Operative delay for medical conditions occurred in 6.6 per cent. When these groups were excluded, there was no difference in the mortality or hospital stay between patients from their own homes or old people's homes who had immediate surgery (within 8 h of arrival) and those in whom surgery was delayed for up to 48 h.