Aim
Hip fractures carry a 26% mortality risk within one year following first admission1. We sought to compare 2024 hip fracture management data from the Royal Darwin Hospital ANZHFR with the national registry, with an Orthogeriatrics Unit since 2022.
Methods
108 patients between 1-12/2024 had hip fractures reviewed via ANZHFR database at RDH. Basic data analysis and statistics were employed.
Results
30- and 365-day mortality were 1.9% and 6.5% respectively. 38.9% patients were men, 61.1% women. Mean age in the 70s.
Pre-operative medical assessment occurred >85%. Time to geriatric assessment was less than nationally for most of the year. Documented receipt of oral nutrition was well below the national average. Prescription of bone medications was better than nationally. New pressure injury was more than 0%.
Pain management within 30 minutes of ED presentation and preoperative nerve block were variable. Before or in operating theatre nerve block was above the national average for 75% of the year. Average time to surgery was 32-35 hours, well ahead of the national average.
79% of patients discharged privately. 11.8% were sent to a Residential Aged Care Facility compared with 31% nationally. Acute LOS was longer in the wet season and shorter in the dry season compared with nationally.
Unrestricted weightbearing was more often than the national average. First day walking was below the national average for almost the entire year.
Conclusions
Our hospital is proud of our mortality statistics, reflecting strong ortho-geriatric care coordination. We continue to work on areas requiring improvement.