S3012 INTERNATIONAL AUDIT OF HIP FRACTURES

Abstract

Hip fractures have increased in most western countries during the end of the last century. This increase will continue mainly because of an increasing number of elderly persons and also due to an increase in the risk of hip fractures in the oldest. This constitutes a threat to resources for medical care. Practise differs concerning choice of operation method and principles for rehabilitation throughout the world. A national registration of the outcome after hip fractures in the elderly started in 1988 in Sweden to compare different methods of surgery, mobilization and rehabilitation. This project has attracted great international interest and several centres have participated with prospective registration. With support from the European Commission a project was started in 1995 called Standardised Audit of Hip Fracture in Europe (SAHFE). The project aims to encourage centres in Europe to participate in a hip fracture audit with a defined data set consisting of a core of 34 questions which includes outcome measures at 4 months from operation. Printed forms are distributed to the participants as well as a computer program designed for the project. In addition there is a large number of optional questions. Each participating centres collects its own data and registers for own analysis. The data are then sent to the project centre in Lund. Hospitals wishing to participate in these international comparisons are welcome. The SAHFE project will promote comparisons of demographic features, surgical technique and rehabilitation methods to facilitate the dissemination of the best practise of hip fracture surgery and rehabilitation throughout Europe. Further international participation will widen the spectrum and facilitate improvements of the hip fracture treatment of benefit both to the patients and the society which has to provide health care to the increasing number of elderly.