Discharge after hip fracture surgery in relation to mobilisation timing by patient characteristics: linked secondary analysis of the UK National Hip Fracture Database

Patient, surgical and hospital factors predicting actual first-day mobilisation after hip fracture surgery: An observational cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To examine patient, surgical and hospital factors associated with Day-1 postoperative mobility after hip fracture surgery in older adults.

METHODS

A cohort study using Australia and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry was conducted. Participants were aged older than 50 years and underwent hip fracture surgery between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2020 inclusive. The outcome was standing and step transferring out of bed onto a chair and/or walking Day-1 after hip fracture surgery.

RESULTS

Mean age was 82 years and 68% were women. Of 12,318 patients with hip fracture, 5981 (49%) actually mobilised Day-1. Odds of actual first-day mobilisation were lower for individuals usually walking with either stick or crutch (OR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.62-0.82) or two aids or frame (OR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.52-0.64) or wheelchair/bed bound (OR = 0.24, 95% CI 0.17-0.33); who had impaired cognition preadmission (OR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.51-0.64); from aged care facilities (OR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.52-0.67); had an American Society of Anaesthesiologists grade 2 (OR = 0.63, 95% CI 0.41-0.97), 3 (OR = 0.31, 95% CI 0.20-0.47) or 4 or 5 (OR = 0.21, 95% CI 0.14-0.32); surgery delay >48 h (OR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.71-0.91); and restricted/non-weight-bearing status immediately postoperatively (OR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.42-0.67).

CONCLUSIONS

Both non-modifiable and modifiable patient and surgical factors influence first-day mobilisation after hip fracture surgery. Reducing time to surgery might assist future quality improvement efforts to increase Day-1 postoperative mobility.

The role of depression in the association between mobilisation timing and live discharge after hip fracture surgery: Secondary analysis of the UK National Hip Fracture Database

PURPOSE

The aim was to compare the probability of discharge after hip fracture surgery conditional on being alive and in hospital between patients mobilised within and beyond 36-hours of surgery across groups defined by depression.

METHODS

Data were taken from the National Hip Fracture Database and included patients 60 years of age or older who underwent hip fracture surgery in England and Wales between 2014 and 2016. The conditional probability of postsurgical live discharge was estimated for patients mobilised early and for patients mobilised late across groups with and without depression. The association between mobilisation timing and the conditional probability of live discharge were also estimated separately through adjusted generalized linear models.

RESULTS

Data were analysed for 116,274 patients. A diagnosis of depression was present in 8.31% patients. In those with depression, 7,412 (76.7%) patients mobilised early. In those without depression, 84,085 (78.9%) patients mobilised early. By day 30 after surgery, the adjusted odds ratio of discharge among those who mobilised early compared to late was 1.79 (95% CI: 1.56-2.05, p<0.001) and 1.92 (95% CI: 1.84-2.00, p<0.001) for those with and without depression, respectively.

CONCLUSION

A similar proportion of patients with depression mobilised early after hip fracture surgery when compared to those without a diagnosis of depression. The association between mobilisation timing and time to live discharge was observed for patients with and without depression.

Variation in care and outcomes for people after hip fracture with and without cognitive impairment; results from the Australian and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry

BACKGROUND

People with dementia have poorer outcomes after hip fracture and this may be due in part to variation in care. We aimed to compare care and outcomes for people with and without cognitive impairment after hip fracture.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study using Australian and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry data for people ≥50 years of age who underwent hip fracture surgery (n = 49,063). Cognitive impairment or known dementia and cognitively healthy groups were defined using preadmission cognitive status. Descriptive statistics and multivariable mixed effects models were used to compare groups.

RESULTS

In general, cognitively impaired people had worse care and outcomes compared to cognitively healthy older people. A lower proportion of the cognitively impaired group had timely pain assessment (≤30 min of presentation: 61% vs 68%; p < 0.0001), were given the opportunity to mobilise (89% vs 93%; p < 0.0001) and achieved day-1 mobility (34% vs 58%; p < 0.0001) than the cognitively healthy group. A higher proportion of the cognitively impaired group had delayed pain management (>30 mins of presentation: 26% vs 20%; p < 0.0001), were malnourished (27% vs 15%; p < 0.0001), had delirium (44% vs 13%; p < 0.0001) and developed a new pressure injury (4% vs 3%; p < 0.0001) than the cognitively healthy group. Fewer of the cognitively impaired group received rehabilitation (35% vs 64%; p < 0.0001), particularly patients from RACFs (16% vs 39%; p < 0.0001) and were prescribed bone protection medication on discharge (24% vs 27%; p < 0.0001). Significantly more of the cognitively impaired group had a new transfer to residential care (46% vs 11% from private residence; p < 0.0001) and died at 30-days (7% vs 3% from private residence; 15% vs 10% from RACF; both p < 0.0001). In multivariable models adjusting for covariates with facility as the random effect, the cognitively impaired group had a greater odds of being malnourished, not achieving day-1 walking, having delirium in the week after surgery, dying within 30 days, and in those from private residences, having a new transfer to a residential care facility than the cognitively healthy group.

CONCLUSIONS

We have identified several aspects of care that could be improved for patients with cognitive impairment - management of pain, mobility, nutrition and bone health, as well as delirium assessment, prevention and management strategies and access to rehabilitation. Further research is needed to determine whether improvements in care will reduce hospital complications and improve outcomes for people with dementia after hip fracture.

Comparing outcomes of total hip arthroplasty versus hemiarthroplasty in neck of femur fracture patients: an Australian registry study

PURPOSE

To determine discharge outcomes of displaced subcapital NOF patients who were from home, with intact pre-operative cognition, ASA 1 or 2 and independent walkers treated with either THA or hemiarthroplasty.

METHODS

A retrospective registry study was performed using data from the Australia and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry (ANZHFR). Institutional ethics approval was obtained prior to commencement. Hip fracture registry records between 1st January 2016 and 31st January 2020 were reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of 930 patients with complete records were identified and included. There were 602 THA and 328 hemiarthroplasty patients. Using multivariate analysis, pre-operative factors associated with THA include younger age (OR = 0.90 for every year older, p < 0.001), females (p = 0.043), private admissions (OR = 1.62, p = 0.028) and receiving pre-operative geriatric assessment (OR = 1.89, p = 0.002). Delay to theatre due to not being fit for surgery was associated with not receiving THA (OR = 0.21, p < 0.001). THA resulted in a shorter total hospital length of stay (MD = 7.24, p < 0.001), higher likelihood of being discharged home (OR = 1.88, p < 0.001) and lower likelihood of being discharged to a residential aged care facility (OR = 0.32, p = 0.019).

CONCLUSION

Displaced subcapital NOF patients who were admitted from home, had intact pre-operative cognition, ASA 1 or 2, independent walkers and had THAs, had shorter total hospital length of stay, were more likely to be discharged home directly and less likely to end up in residential aged care facilities compared to those undergoing hemiarthroplasty.

Mobility and mortality outcomes among older individuals with hip fractures at a teaching hospital in Malaysia

The challenges of hip fracture care in Malaysia is scarcely discussed. This study evaluated the outcomes of older patients with hip fracture admitted to a teaching hospital in Malaysia. We found that one in five individuals was no longer alive at one year after surgery. Three out of five patients did not recover to their pre-fracture mobility status 6 months following hip fracture surgery.

PURPOSE

With the rising number of older people in Malaysia, it is envisaged that the number of fragility hip fractures would also increase. The objective of this study was to determine patient characteristics and long-term outcomes of hip fracture in older individuals at a teaching hospital in Malaysia.

METHODS

This was a prospective observational study which included consecutive patients aged  ≥ 65 years old admitted to the orthopedic ward with acute hip fractures between March 2016 and August 2018. Patient socio-demographic details, comorbidities, pre-fracture mobility status, fracture type, operation and anesthesia procedure, and length of stay were recorded. Post-fracture mobility status was identified at 6 months. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to assess the risk of death in all patients.

RESULTS

310 patients (70% women) with the mean age of 79.89 years (SD 7.24) were recruited during the study period. Of these, 284 patients (91.6%) underwent surgical intervention with a median time to surgery of 5 days (IQR 3-8) days. 60.4% of patients who underwent hip fracture surgery did not recover to their pre-fracture mobility status. One year mortality rate was 20.1% post hip fracture surgery. The independent predictor of mortality included advanced age (hazard ratio, HR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.01-1.08; p = 0.01), dependency on activities of daily living (HR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.26-3.45; p = 0.01), and longer length of hospitalization (HR = 1.02, 95% CI = 1.01-1.04; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

One in 5 individuals who underwent hip fracture surgery at a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur was no longer alive at one year. A systematic approach to hip fracture management is crucial to improve outcomes and restore pre-fracture function of this vulnerable group of patients.

Post-operative delirium in the patient with hip fracture: The journey from hospital arrival to discharge

Delirium- an acute disorder of attention and cognition- is the commonest complication following hip fracture. Patients with hip fracture are particularly vulnerable to delirium, and many of the lessons from the care of the patient with hip fracture will extend to other surgical cohorts. Prevention and management of delirium for patients presenting with hip fracture, extending along a continuum from arrival through to the post-operative setting. Best practice guidelines emphasize multidisciplinary care including management by an orthogeriatric service, regular delirium screening, and multimodal interventions. The evidence base for prevention is strongest in terms of multifaceted interventions, while once delirium has set in, early recognition and identification of the cause are key. Integration of effective strategies is often suboptimal, and may be supported by approaches such as interactive teaching methodologies, routine feedback, and clear protocol dissemination. Partnering with patients and carers will support person centered care, improve patient experiences, and may improve outcomes. Ongoing work needs to focus on implementing recognized best practice, in order to minimize the health, social and economic costs of delirium.

A comparative study of hip fracture care and outcomes in major trauma centres versus trauma units

INTRODUCTION

There is good evidence to support that major trauma networks significantly reduce morbidity and mortality in severely injured patients. However, following the introduction of major trauma centres (MTCs) in England in 2012, early concerns were raised regarding the effect on hip fracture patients. The aim of our study was to review data from the National Hip Fracture Database for fractured neck of femur (FNOF) patients, comparing patient outcomes between MTCs and trauma units (TUs), and the national regions of the UK.

METHODS

NHFD data from 2018 for all hospitals in England, Wales and NI was collected using the charts and dashboards available online. We recorded data for the following outcomes: time to surgery, acute hospital length of stay, overall hospital length of stay, discharge to original residence within 120 days, crude 30-day mortality and adjusted 30-day mortality. We conducted a one-way ANOVA test to calculate statistical differences for each outcome measure by MTC vs TU and then separately for the regions of the UK divided into England, Wales and Northern Ireland (NI).

RESULTS

Data for 175 hospitals are included in this study; 22 of which were MTCs. The total number of operative cases were 65,848. 9668 of these occurred in MTC compared to 56,180 in TUs. This equates to an annual average of 439 per MTC and 367 per TU. Despite this, there was no statistically significant difference observed in all outcomes for MTC vs TU. Patients in NI waited longer for their surgery (60.3 h, p < 0.001), whilst patients in Wales had the longest overall hospital length of stay (31.6 days, p < 0.001). However, there was no difference in patients' crude 30-day mortality (p = 0.480) or adjusted 30-day mortality (p = 0.191).

CONCLUSION

These findings are reassuring for MTCs in England. We found no evidence to suggest that FNOF patients are treated inferiorly, or have worse outcomes, at MTCs vs TUs. FNOF patients in NI waited longer for their surgery but this did not have any significant difference on 30-day mortality rates. The care of FNOF patients in NI may warrant further study.