Predictive factors for in-hospital stay and complications after hip fracture

BackgroundThere are a number of factors, such as preoperative Length Of hospital Stay (LOS), that effect treatment outcomes following proximal hip fracture. Much of this is not completely understood.ObjectiveTo determine whether co-morbidities, complications and patients’ abnormal laboratory findings at admission have an effect on LOS and related complications during hospitalization for hip fracture treatment in a Greek hospital.DesignProspective observational descriptive study.SettingA high volume orthopedic ward of a general hospital in Greece, from March to October 2008.PatientsIn total, 253 consecutive patients hospitalized for hip fracture treatment in an orthopedic ward of a large Greek hospital were included in the study. All complications, LOS and parameters of clinical history and treatment were recorded.ResultsThe mean age of the sample was 79.68 years. Only 29.3% of the patients were operated within the first 2 days, as the mean preoperative LOS was 3.71 days, leading to a total LOS of 9.68 days. Preoperative LOS increases somewhat in patients with heart failure and previous cerebrovascular accident. LOS increases when patients present with cardiac complications, respiratory complications, fever and anemia. Complications correlate with the type of patients’ co-morbidities. Abnormal laboratory findings at admission correlate to the type of preoperative complications.DiscussionLOS, mortality and complication rates in the study hospital are comparable to the findings reported in the literature.