This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Hip fracture care may be best served focusing on decreasing readmission rates
Study data published recently in Orthopedics showed management of patients with hip fracture should consistently be geared toward optimizing chronic disease states while also working to minimize the duration of initial hospitalization and decrease readmission rates.
Researchers divided 1,482 patients who underwent surgery to treat a femoral neck, intertrochanteric or subtrochanteric hip fracture during an 8-year period into one of two groups for retrospective comparison, depending on whether they were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. Patients’ mean age was 82 years.
Results showed a 30-day readmission rate of 9.35%. The researchers also found a significantly higher rate of preexisting diabetes and pulmonary disease and a longer initial hospital length of stay among patients in the readmission group.
According to study results, medical complications were the primary result of readmission, with only one-fourth occurring secondary to orthopedic surgical failure.
Predictors of readmission included preexisting pulmonary disease, initial hospitalization of 8 days or longer and discharge to a skilled nursing facility, according to the researchers. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.