Citation

Haleem S, Mayahi R, Khanna A, Lutchman L, Parker MJ. Inj. Extra 2008; 39(5): 201-201.

Affiliation

Peterborough District Hospital, UK; Ipswich Hospital, UK; Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.injury.2007.11.403

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A review of all articles published on the outcome after hip fracture over the last 40 years was undertaken to determine any changes that had occurred in the demographics of patients and mortality over this time period. In addition data was used from a database of 3094 consecutive patients treated at one centre over the period 1989-2000. The mean age of patients sustaining hip fractures was found to be steadily increasing over the study period at a rate of 1 year of age for every 5-year time period has increased from a mean of 72 years in the 1960s to the current mean of 79 years. No notable differences were seen in the proportion of intracapsular fractures or male patients. The mortality at 6 and 12 months after injury remained essentially unchanged over the four decades reviewed. The mean age of patients in the USA was 76 compared to 79 in the UK. This difference may account for the lower 1-year mortality reported in series from the USA (24%) compared with that in the United Kingdom literature (29%). Mortality after a hip fracture remains significant, being 11-23% at 6 months and 22-29% at 1 year from injury. Geographical variations exist in the mortality after hip fracture. More detailed international comparisons are required to determine if these differences in outcome are accounted for by the variations in the demographics of patients or due to diversities in treatment methods.