Bone Abstracts

Objective: To assess the prevalence of post-operative medical and surgical complications among fracture neck of femur patients.

Method: Study design: retrospective cohort study.

Setting: District General Hospital in UK.

Study subject: a total of 75 patients with fracture neck of femur from 2012 to 2013 were ascertained for any post-operative complications by case note study.

Results: Out of 75 patients studied, 61 (81.3%) were females (age range 60–102) with a mean age of 84 years and 14 (18.6%) were males (65–89) with a mean of 80 years. 44 (58.6%) of them developed post-operative complications. 20 (26.6%) of them developed post-op anaemia (Hb<8 g/dl) and required blood transfusion. 14 (18.6%) developed urinary tract infection and treated with antibiotics. 12 (16%) developed lower respiratory tract infection and were treated with antibiotics.

Other less common complications seen were hypotension, cellulitis, surgical wound infection (three cases), worsening confusion, diarrhoea, seizures and one each case of new onset atrial fibrillation and stroke.

Conclusion: Most of the hip fracture patients are elderly with osteoporosis and a significant percentage of them are prone to post operative complications suggesting the need for specialised dedicated hip fracture unit with close collaborative medical care throughout the perioperative period to reduce the morbidity and mortality.