[Initial experiences of an orthogeriatric unit].
OBJECTIVE
To report the design and outcomes obtained during the first operational years of the Orthogeriatric Unit (OGU) established in the Zaragoza-1 (Spain) Health-Sector.


METHODS
A total of 494 patients >70 years old treated in the OGU from February 2009 to December 2012. An analysis was performed using the following variables: demography, previous functional level, comorbidities, surgical delay, fracture type and surgical technique, complications, hospital stay, functional outcomes, destination after hospital discharge, and short and long term mortality.


RESULTS
Mean age 85.22 years. High incidence of comorbidities (Charlson Index): 24.3%. Dementia: 38.5%. Surgical delay: 2.57 days. Mean hospital stay between admission and discharge/transfer to convalescence unit, 20.9 days (Traumatology 6.45+OGU 14.49). More than a third (34.6%) of patients suffered from delirium. Mean functional improvement (Barthel index at hospital discharge-Barthel index at hospital admission): 27.25 points. Montebello index: 0.49. In-hospital mortality: 6.9%.


CONCLUSIONS
Hip fracture is such a frequent and disabling pathology among the geriatric population that its treatment requires an interdisciplinary approach. This must be managed by the geriatrician, who has to assure the continuity and integration of the diverse treatment and care schedules, with the participation of the entire professional team in the decision-making process. We are very satisfied with the creation of our interdisciplinary Unit that enables us to report competitive outcomes. We believe that the progression of this Unit from providing subacute to acute care will improve the general outcomes in the future.
Servicio de Geriatría, Unidad de Ortogeriatría, Hospital Nuestra Señora de Gracia, Zaragoza, España.
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Mesa-Lampré
Servicio de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología, Sector Zaragoza 1, Unidad de Ortogeriatría, Hospitales Royo Villanova y Nuestra Señora de Gracia, Zaragoza, España. Electronic address: vcanalesc@telefonica.net.
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Canales-Cortés
Servicio de Geriatría, Hospital San Juan de Dios, Zaragoza, España.
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Castro-Vilela
Unidad de Valoración Sociosanitaria, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, España.
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Clerencia-Sierra
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods; D005853:Geriatrics; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009985:Orthopedics; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013030:Spain; D014194:Traumatology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Atención interdisciplinar; Fractura cadera; Hip fracture; Interdisciplinary Management; Orthogeriatrics; Ortogeriatría