Early operation of femur fractures close to the hip joint. Results of a prospective study including 161 elderly patients

In a prospective analysis the question should be answered, wether the morta lity rate of femur fractures close to the hip joint can be diminished by op erating as early as possible. 161 patients elder than 65 years could be inc luded in the study. 86 % of the 161 patients were operated upon 24 hours af ter trauma. The infection rate amounted to 3.4 % after endoprothesis and to 1.2% after osteosynthesis. The hospital mortality was 7.4 %. More than 85 % of the patients could be discharged into the usual domestic surroundings. The rate of systemic complications (25.3 %) was similar to the rate report ed by the Chamber of Physicians with 26.1 %. The hospital length of stay co uld not be dimished by this concept. By operating as early as possible the patients' request for mobility is fulfilled without running unjustifiable r isks regarding mortality and postoperative complications. The mortality rat e corresponds to the literature.