Costs of treatment of hip fractures. A calculation of the consumption of the resources of hospitals and rehabilitation institutions.

A series of 518 patients with hip fractures and a median age of 78 years was followed for 6 months. On admission to hospital the patients were assessed and were found to be evenly distributed among four social function groups according to their level of dependence on the social welfare system. At the 6 months follow-up the mortality rate was about 16 per cent, leaving 437 patients for a reassessment of social function. The average hospitalization time was 23 days; thus 17 per cent of all orthopaedic hospital beds in the area were occupied by patients with hip fractures. Patients staying the longest time in hospital were those waiting for discharge to a nursing home. The average stay in rehabilitation institutions was 71 days. The total rehabilitation course was longest for the most dependent patients. The risk of death or deterioration of social function among patients admitted from home was 48 per cent. In the case of social deterioration or technical failure following the fracture treatment the total rehabilitation course was considerably prolonged. The resources required for the treatment of hip fractures in a suburban area of 500,000 inhabitants were calculated to the 32 hospital beds, 43 rehabilitation beds and at least 21 nursing home beds.