Femoral neck fracture. Factors related to ambulation and prognosis.

A total of 427 elderly patients with femoral neck fractures were studied retrospectively to identify factors that may be correlated with life expectancy and functional prognosis. Gender, age, prefracture activities of daily living (ADL), electrocardiogram ECG), electroencephalogram (EEG), cognitive function, hemoglobin level, total protein level, and type of fracture were evaluated to determine the correlation of each predictive factor with survival time after surgery and three-month postoperative walking recovery rate. The one-year survival rate was found to be 55.9%: 59.1% for women and 52.3% for men. The walking recovery rate was 55.8%. The most important factors affecting life expectancy were prefracture ADL, ECG, EEG, and cognitive function score (Hasegawa's score). Electroencephalogram and Hasegawa's score also were found to be important prognostic factors for postoperative ADL. Preoperative medical conditions are useful indicators for determination of functional prognosis and survival.