Researchers found little change in the mortality rates during the past three decades for patients with hip fractures, according to results of a recently published study.
“We found similar mortality and reoperation rates in surgically treated hip fracture patients over time, with the exception of decreasing mortality rates in patients with intertrochanteric fractures,” Simran Mundi, BHSc, and colleagues, wrote.
In a review of three electronic databases on hip fracture management, the researchers studied 70 randomized controlled trials that were published from 1981 to 2012. They found an average 24% mortality rate for patients with hip fractures during the 1-year postoperative period. The mortality rate decreased to 23% in the 1990s and 21% for studies published after 1999.

“With 1-year mortality rates still around 20%, this highlights the need to improve outcomes,” the researchers wrote.

Researchers found a decrease in the mean mortality rate for patients who had intertrochanteric fractures, which was 34% in the studies published in the 1980s and 1990s to 23% for studies after 1999. There were similar mortality rates for femoral neck fractures and reoperation rates, according to the study.The reoperation rates for patients in the 1 year after surgery increased from 9.9% in the 1980s to 11% before then decreasing to 6.6% in the studies published after 1999. – by Christian Ingram

Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.