Mobility in Older Patients with Hip Fractures: Examining Prefracture Status, Complications, and Outcomes at Discharge from the Acute-Care Hospital

Summary: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among prefracture status, development of complications, mobility outcomes at discharge, and disposition at discharge. We singled out a case series of consecutive noninstitutionalized elderly persons hospitalized for hip fracture (ICD 820.0-820.9) at two Baltimore hospitals during 1992-1993. Data were abstracted from the medical records for the following variables: sociodemographic information, prefracture status, selected medical conditions, injury and surgical treatment, complications, functional mobility and assistance needed at discharge, and disposition. Factors associated with four complications were identified from multiple logistic regression analyses, (a) Prefracture needs for assistance with activities of daily living (ADL), and age ≥80, were associated with the development of pressure ulcers, (b) Male gender and prefracture urinary incontinence (UI) were associated with pneumonia, (c) Prefracture UI and weight-bearing status were associated with UI after removal of an indwelling catheter, (d) Age ≥80 was associated with urinary retention. The amount of assistance needed for mobility tasks at discharge was associated with prefracture need for assistance with ADLs, gender, weight-bearing status, and hospitals with shorter lengths of stay and fewer physical therapy sessions. Patients who were older and had shorter lengths of stay and less physical therapy were more likely to go to another health facility than directly home. Prefracture status (ADL, prefracture UI) was significantly associated with the development of complications. Prefracture needs for assistance with ADL and complications were associated with mobility outcomes at discharge. These prefracture factors have an effect on outcomes and need to be addressed in the development of critical pathways for case treatment. Specific protocols for subgroups of patients may need to be designed and evaluated.