LAUSR

IntroductionThe aim of this open prospective cohort study was to determine if a prolonged pre-operative hospital stay is a true predictor of higher morbidity or mortality in geriatric patients with hip fractures.Materials and methodsWe analysed early outcome parameters, such as functional independence measure (FIM), at discharge and four months post-operatively, peri-operative nonsurgical complications, intra-hospital and one year mortality compared with prolonged pre-operative hospital stay in 308 patients from a continuous cohort of 344.ResultsAverage pre-operative stay was 8.39 ± 5.80 days. Delaying surgery for > 72 hours was independently predictive for general complications and lower motor FIM gain at four months. All findings worsen progressively after the fifth day of delay. Pre-operative period was not found to be an independent predictor of mortality.ConclusionIn all observed outcome parameters except mortality, pre-operative delay > 72 hours was shown to be a true predictive factor.