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Age may not increase complication risk in patients 90 years or older with hip fracture
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Age alone did not increase the risk for perioperative complications among patients 90 years of age or older who underwent operative treatment for hip fracture.
Kenneth A. Egol, MD, professor and vice chair for education in the department of orthopedic surgery at NYU Langone Health, and colleagues analyzed patient demographics, comorbidities, length of stay, procedure performed, inpatient complications and total cost of admission among 500 patients 60 years of age and older with hip fractures who underwent operative treatment. Researchers compared outcomes between patients older than 90 years of age and patients younger than 90 years of age.
Of the patients included, 78.2% were 60 to 89 years of age and 21.8% were 90 years of age or older. Results showed the two groups had no differences in fracture pattern, operation performed, Charlson Comorbidity Index or length of stay. Patients 90 years of age or older had a mean length of stay of approximately 7.8 days compared with 7.6 days among patients younger than 90 years of age, according to results. Researchers found no differences in perioperative complications or in the total mean cost of admission between the two groups.
“Although the rate of hip fractures has decreased in the last decade, the incidence is increasing due to our aging population. Orthopedic surgeons will face an ever-increasing burden of hip fracture patients presenting at advanced ages,” Egol told Healio.com/Orthopedics. “The treating physicians should understand that these patients carry no greater risk than those younger for early complications and penalties associated with those imposed by the government. Hip fracture fixation remains the standard of care for patients regardless of age.” – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: Egol reports he is a paid consultant for and receives royalties from Exactech. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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