Death rate in patients submitted to the surgical treatment of fracture of the proximal femur.

The death rate 6 and 12 months after surgery in 389 patients who had been treated for fracture of the proximal femur between 1989 and 1993 (1st semester) was studied. All of the patients submitted to surgery were traced through the official records on the population of the City of Padova. The overall death rate after 6 months was 16%, that after 12 months 23%. The best survival rate was observed in patients who had been submitted to gamma nail arthroplasty (p < 0.01).