FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME AFTER HIP FRACTURE - EFFECT OF GENERAL VERSUS REGIONAL ANESTHESIA

The effect of anesthetic technique on ambulation and functional recove ry after hip fracture was studied in a series of 631 community dwellin g, elderly patients, Functional recovery at followup was determined by an 11-item functional rating scale, In univariate analysis, recovery of ambulatory ability and percent functional recovery were significant ly higher at 6 months for patients who had general anesthesia, When co ntrolling for potential confounding variables, however, no differences were observed in recovery of ambulatory ability or percent functional recovery between the two groups at 3, 6, or 12 months after hip fract ure.