title: The effect of the timing of hip fracture surgery on the activity of daily living and mortality in elderly.
abstract: The optimal time for the operation of hip fractures in elderly is not clear. Most of the data indicate that early operation is associated with better prognosis and improved health quality. We aimed to investigate the effect of timing of surgical intervention on the frequency of post-operative complications, recovery of weight bearing ability, total hospitalization time and activities of daily living (ADL) scores. Sixty five patients subjected to surgical repair were followed up. All were evaluated for their ADL before fracture, post-operative 1st, 3rd, 6th and 12th month. The patients operated within 5 days after hospitalization constituted the early group (n = 38, 24 females, 14 males; mean age = 76.16 +/- 7.08 years), and the patients operated after the fifth day served as the late group (n = 27, 18 females, 9 males; mean age = 75.81 +/- 7.50). Time of recovery of weight bearing ability and total hospitalization time were significantly higher in the late group (P < 0.05). ADL scores in 1st, 3rd and 6th month after surgery were significantly lower (P < 0.05), and death rates on post-operative 1st and 12th month were significantly higher in the late group (P < 0.05). Elderly, operated within 5 days of the hip fracture have increased survival time and better life quality than those operated after the fifth day of the admission. The data supports the previous reports which indicate the necessity of the early operation of elderly hip fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Etlik Ankara 06018, Turkey. hndoruk@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hüseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Doruk
authors.forename: M Refik
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mas
authors.forename: Cemil
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Alper
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sonmez
authors.forename: Vecihi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kýrdemir
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome