MONDAY, Sept. 13 (HealthDay News) -- Elderly patients who have
surgery soon after suffering a hip fracture reduce their risk of
dying by 19 percent, a new analysis shows.
Hip fractures are associated with a death rate of 14 percent to
36 percent in the year following the fracture. Current guidelines
recommend surgery within 24 hours of a hip fracture. However, some
doctors believe delaying surgery helps decrease the risk of
complications.
In this study, Canadian researchers reviewed 16 previous studies
that included a total of 13,478 patients aged 60 and older. They
found that surgery performed within 24 to 72 hours after a hip
fracture reduces the risk of death and may lower the risk of
postoperative pneumonia and pressure sores.
The findings were published Sept. 13 in the
Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Further research is needed to learn more about the effects that
early surgery has on elderly hip fracture patients, Dr. Mohit
Bhandari, of McMaster University, and colleagues said in a news
release from the publisher.
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about
hip fractures.