FACTORS RELATED TO SUCCESSFUL REHABILITATION AFTER HIP FRACTURE - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

A case-control study was performed to evaluate factors associated with successful rehabilitation in elderly patients who sustained hip fract ures. All 170 patients with fractured hips hospitalized in the geriatr ics ward of the Soroka Medical Center in Beer-Sheva, Israel between 19 87 and 1991 were studied. Success of rehabilitation was determined by staff evaluation of the patient's ability to walk and perform activiti es of daily living. The independent variables, including sociodemograp hic and medical variables, and mental and functional assessments, were assessed by chart reviews, staff evaluation and mental tests. One-hun dred and twenty-nine patients (75.9%) were successfully rehabilitated. A normal mental state (p < 0.0001), female gender (p < 0.02) and abse nce of diabetes mellitus (p < 0.008) were associated significantly wit h successful rehabilitation.