Case mix and outcome for patients with fracture of the proximal femur.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the way in which case mix and outcome are related for fracture of the proximal femur in a base hospital.


METHODS
All patients over age 60 admitted to Waikato Hospital during one year with fracture of the proximal femur were assessed for premorbid function and comorbidity and were followed to discharge.


RESULTS
There was a low frequency of post operative morbid events. Post operative mortality was 3%. Average length of stay was 19.9 days. Increased age and disability, trochanteric fracture, residence in a rest home, previous hypertension or stroke, technical complication, simultaneous fracture of another limb and perioperative myocardial infarction were all associated with increased length of stay.


CONCLUSIONS
Factors are described which will alert clinicians to people likely to have a long length of stay and may need formal rehabilitation. Continuous quality improvement techniques may be a way of improving services such as these further.
Weatherall
M
M
Department for the elderly, Waikato Hospital, Hamilton.
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006302:Health Services Research; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D009985:Orthopedics; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome