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Affiliation
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Department of Statistics, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. |
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Abstract
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We thank Gao1 for the interest in our article2 and we would like to clarify the issues mentioned by Gao.
With regards to the selection of patients, a lower age of 50 years was used to include majority of the hip fracture population, and we note that the Australian and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry3 includes all minimal trauma hip fracture patients above the age of 50 years. Of the 820 patients included in our study, 58 were under the age of 65 years (7%), none of whom sustained concurrent upper limb injuries. Patients who sustained concurrent upper limb injuries had a median (interquartile range) age of 82 (78–89) years, which was not significantly different to those without injuries (median (interquartile range) = 84 (76–89) years; P = 0.9, Wilcoxon rank sum test).
The use of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Index was utilized to reflect co‐morbidities which patients have, including the ones that are listed in the letter. More research could demonstrate the influence of individual co‐morbidities on the rehabilitation of patients but was beyond the scope of this study.
The post‐operative rehabilitation for the patients in our hospital follow the Australian and New Zealand Guideline for Hip Fracture Care and Hip Fracture Care Clinical Care Standard,4 which recommends that patients be allowed to full weight‐bearing through the hip without restriction immediately after hip fracture surgery. Ninety‐two percent of patients are given the opportunity to mobilize on day 1, and 92% see a geriatrician during their stay in hospital. We have a streamlined approach to referrals to rehabilitation which contributes to our very consistent acute length of stay ...
Language: en |