In order to define the optimum timing of surgery for a hip fracture, we undertook a systematic review of all previously published studies on this topic. Data from the retrieved studies were extracted by two independent reviews and the methodology of each study assessed. In total, 43 studies involving 265,137 patients were identified. Outcomes considered were mortality, post-operative complications, length of hospital stay and return of patients back home.

There were no randomised trials on this topic. Six studies of 8535 patients have the most appropriate methodology, which was prospective collection of data with adjustment for confounding variables. These studies found no effect on mortality for any delays in surgery. One of these studies found fewer complications for those operated on early but this was not found in the other study to report on these outcomes. Two of these studies reported on hospital stay, which was reduced for those operated on early. Six studies of 229,418 patients were retrospective reviews of patient administration databases with an attempt at adjusting for confounding factors. They reported a reduced mortality, hospital stay and complications for those operated on early. Thirty-one other studies of variable methodology reported similar findings of reduced complications with early surgery, apart from one study of 399 patients which reported an increased mortality and morbidity for those operated on within 24 hours of admission.

In conclusion those studies with more careful methodology were less likely to report a beneficial effect of early surgery, particularly in relation to mortality. But early surgery (within 48 hours of admission) does seem to reduce complications such as pressure sores and reduces hospital stay.

In order to define the optimum timing of surgery for a hip fracture, we undertook a systematic review of all previously published studies on this topic. Data from the retrieved studies was extracted by two independent reviews and the methodology of each study assessed. In total, 43 studies involving 265137 patients were identified. Outcomes considered were mortality, post-operative complications, length of hospital stay and return of patients back home.

There were no randomised trials on this topic. Six studies of 8535 patients have the most appropriate methodology, which was prospective collection of data with adjustment for confounding variables. These studies found no effect on mortality for any delays in surgery. One of these studies found fewer complications for those operated on early but this was not found in the other study to report on these outcomes. Two of these studies reported on hospital stay, which was reduced for those operated on early. Six studies of 229418 patients were retrospective reviews of patient administration databases with an attempt at adjusting for confounding factors. They reported a reduce mortality, hospital stay and complications for those operated on early. Thirty-one other studies of variable methodology reported similar findings of reduced complications with early surgery apart from one study of 399 patients, which reported an increased mortality and morbidity for those operated on within 24 hours of admission.

In conclusion those studies with more careful methodology were less likely to report a beneficial effect of early surgery, particularly in relation to mortality. But early surgery (within 48 hours of admission) does seem to reduce complications such as pressure sores and reduces hospital stay.