Abstract
Objectives
To determine whether a delay to surgery (>36Hours) affects mortality rate, length of stay and post-operative complications following hip fracture surgery.
Methods
Data collected by dedicated Audit staff using a proforma designed in accordance with the ‘Standardised Audit of Hip Fractures in Europe’ (SAHFE). A prospective Observational Study, all patients (n=7207) admitted and who underwent surgery during a 10-year period from May 1999 to May 2009 have been considered. Chi square tests and independent sample t tests were used for basic statistical analyses. Mortality data were analysed using Kaplan Meier survival analysis and cox regression analysis. p < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results
The 30-day mortality was 9.5%. At 90 days, mortality was 18.9% and at 1 year it was 31.4%. In patients declared fit for surgery on admission (n=5665), 30-day mortality was 7.5% in those operated on without delay, rising to 10.3% at over 4 days delay (p=0.117). However, in those operated on after 5 days delay, 30-day mortality equalled 13.6% (p=0.009).
Those declared fit for surgery on admission stayed a total 14.5 days if operated within 36 hours, rising to 16 days with over 36 hours delay (p< 0.001). An increase in the rate of urinary tract infection (3.9 vs. 5.9%, p< 0.001) was seen in patients delayed by over 36 hours. However, when considering all patients together, an increase in both urinary tract infection (3.9% vs. 6.1%, p< 0.001) and chest infections (7.9% vs. 11.3%, p< 0.001) was seen with over 36 hours delay to surgery.
Conclusions
The 30-day mortality following hip fracture surgery is 9.5%. Patients admitted without co-morbidities have significantly increased mortality when surgery is delayed by over 5 days. A 36 hour delay to surgery significantly increases length of stay. Urinary tract infection was the only post-operative morbidity to rise with delay to surgery in fit patients.
