Patients with osteoporotic hip fractures: factors affecting length of hospital stay (LOS) and outcome.

OBJECTIVE

Identify risk factors associated with prolonged hospital stay (LOS more than 14 days) in patients with osteoporotic hip fracture.

MATERIAL AND METHOD: One hundred and fifty out of 356 patients with fractured femur were selected between April 2008 and August 2009. Analysis of patient's LOS (group I equal or less than 14 days, group II more than 14 days) is performed by backward binary multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

LOS in group I (n=46) was 12.5 (+/- 4) days compared to 21 (+/- 11) days in group II (n=104). Patients were mainly female (74%) and about 50% were aged over 80 years. The 30-days mortality in group I and II was zero and two patients respectively. Time-to-surgery was three days (+/- 2) in group I and seven (+/- 5) days in group II. Significant predicting risk factors were waiting for investigation (odds ratio (OR) 3.77, confidence interval (CI) 1.12-12.69) and receiving systemic opioids (OR 3.44; CI 1.54-7.66).

CONCLUSION

Unnecessary surgery delay after hip fracture should be avoided. Higher need for opioids in those patients might be the result of prolonged waiting for surgical treatment.