[Effectiveness of co-management between orthopaedic surgeons and internists for inpatient elders with hip fracture]

The effects of in-hospital orthogeriatric care on health-related quality of life: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Orthogeriatric care has been shown to effectively reduce mortality and morbidity and has a potential impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This systematic review and meta-analysis summarises the effects of orthogeriatric care on HRQoL in hip fracture patients.

METHODS

The review protocol was registered in International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO): CRD42021206280. We searched Medline and EMBASE from inception to January 2024 without language restrictions. We included randomised and non-randomised controlled trials comparing HRQoL in older hip fracture patients receiving orthogeriatric care to other fracture care. Study quality was evaluated using the Revised Cochrane Risk-of-Bias (RoB) tool or the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Pooled standardised mean differences (SMDs) were calculated using random-effects models. We reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

RESULTS

Eight studies involving 2411 patients were included, all employing various orthogeriatric care models with moderate to good methodological quality, based on the RoB tool and NOS. However, substantial clinical heterogeneity was present due to variations in study design, number and execution of intervention components, outcome measures and patient populations. Despite this variability, meta-analysis showed that in-hospital orthogeriatric care, compared to usual care, led to a small but statistically significant improvement in overall HRQoL (SMD 0.18, 95% CI 0.06-0.30) with moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 47%).

CONCLUSION

In-hospital orthogeriatric care has a small but significant effect on HRQoL. This study highlights the need for clear descriptions of orthogeriatric care models, their implementation, fidelity and contextual factors. High-quality future research is essential to advance clinical practice, refine care models, address methodological limitations and prioritise patient-centred short- and long-term HRQoL outcomes.

Effectiveness of a co-management program with internal medicine on hip fracture patients at a regional hospital in northwest Spain. Co-inter-Monf study

BACKGROUND

Hip fractures represent a serious public health problem with a high burden of mortality, morbidity, and resource use. Co-management has proven to enhance the clinical outcomes of hip fracture patients hospitalized in various settings.

AIM

This study aims to evaluate whether the previously observed benefits of co-management can be achieved when such a program is implemented in a rural-based district hospital.

METHODS

A prospective, single-center observational study was conducted on hip fracture patients hospitalized for hip fracture. Patients were either co-managed by an internal medicine specialist with part-time dedication or not co-managed. The study was conducted in a rural hospital located in Galicia, Northwestern Spain, which serves a population of 45,000.

RESULTS

A total of 207 patients were included in the study, of whom 97 received co-management. The majority of the patients who were co-managed were female (69.1%) and had a median age of 88 years (interquartile range 83-92). The study showed a high burden of comorbidity with a median Charlson index of 6 points, along with high prevalence rates of dementia (46%), functional disability (50%), and chronic anticoagulant therapy (25%). Despite no differences in age, sex, or preadmission cognitive or functional status, the study found lower 30-day postdischarge mortality in co-managed patients (9.3%) compared with the 110 controls (20.0%, p = 0.049). The prevalence of osteoporosis treatment, both calcium/vitamin D (87.8% vs. 60.7%, p < 0.001) and bisphosphonates/denosumab/teriparatide (42.4% vs. 15.7%, p < 0.001), was higher in the co-managed patients at 30 days after discharge. No differences were observed between the two groups in terms of in-hospital mortality and length of stay.

CONCLUSIONS

The implementation of internal medicine co-management for hip fracture patients resulted in enhanced outcomes, particularly in the reduction of mortality within 30 days of discharge as well as in the prevalence of osteoporosis treatment.

Time to surgery and 30-day mortality after hip fracture: An observational study of 29,695 patients reported to the Spanish National Hip Fracture Registry (SNHFR)

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of time to surgery (TTS) on 30-day mortality in a cohort of patients from the Spanish National Hip Fracture Registry (SNHFR).

METHODS

Retrospective study of a prospective database of hip fracture patients ≥ 75 years old between 2017 and 2019. Exclusion criterion was nonsurgical treatment. Association between TTS and 30-day mortality was assessed with a univariate analysis. Effect size was calculated using the probability of superiority. Regression analysis was performed to analyze the relationship between TTS and 30-day vital status. The ROC curve was used to evaluate the discrimination of mortality based on TTS.

RESULTS

A total of 29,695 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median TTS was 53.8 h. Surgery within 48 h was performed in 51.8 % of cases. Patients with delay of surgery more than 2 days rather than within 2 days were more likely to present an ASA score above 2 (58.9 % vs. 41.1 %, p < 0.001), less likely to achieve postoperative mobilization within 24 h (63 % vs. 67.4 %, p < 0.001), more likely to develop pressure ulcers (10.7 % vs. 6.9 %, p < 0.001), and had longer length of stay (10.7 days vs. 6.9 days, p < 0.001). The overall 30-day mortality rate was 7.8 %. Median TTS was significantly higher in decedents (66 h) than in survivors (56.5 h). There were higher statistically significant differences in 30-day mortality between patients who underwent surgery after 2 days (7.5 %) and those who underwent surgery within 2 days (5.4 %). The 30-day mortality was 5.2 % in patients operated within 24 h and 9.2 % in patients operated more than 120 h. Probability of superiority value was 0.44. Area under the curve reached a value of 0.55.

CONCLUSIONS

The associations between TTS and 30-day mortality were weak. Hip fracture surgery performed within 2 days was significantly associated with remobilization on the day after the hip fracture, with fewer postoperative pressure ulcers and shorter hospital stays. Despite the weakness of the TTS and 30-day mortality association, there are benefits to consider if surgery is performed within 2 days. Our results suggest that patients should be fit for surgery as soon as possible.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

A comprehensive multidisciplinary care pathway for hip fractures better outcome than usual care?

INTRODUCTION

Hip fracture surgery is among the most performed surgical procedures in elderly patients. Mortality rates are high, however, and patients often fail to live independently following a hip fracture. To improve outcome, multidisciplinary care pathways have been initiated, but longer-term results are lacking. Aim of this study was to compare functional outcome and living situation six months after hip fracture treatment with and without a care pathway.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A multicentre prospective controlled trial was conducted with three hospitals: in one hospital patients were treated with a care pathway, in the other hospitals patients received usual care. All patients aged ≥ 60 years with a hip fracture were asked to participate. Besides basic characteristics, health-related quality of life (EQ-5D) and performance scores of activities of daily living (Katz Index and Lawton IADL) were assessed. Differences in scores were analysed using linear regression. Propensity score adjustment was used to correct for differences between the care pathway and the usual care group. Missing data were imputed.

RESULTS

No differences in rate of return to prefracture ADL level were found between patients in the care pathway group and the usual care group. The percentage of participants in the same situation as before the fracture was the same in both treatment groups (81%). There were no significant differences in quality of life, activities of daily living or mortality (15% vs 10%, p = 0.17), but hospital stay in the care pathway group was significantly shorter (median 7 vs 10 days).

DISCUSSION

Treatment of elderly patients with a hip fracture is commonly organised in care pathways. Although short-term advantages are reported, positive effects on longer-term functional results could not be proven in our study. This study confirmed a shorter hospital stay in the care pathway group, which potentially may lead to a reduction in costs.

CONCLUSIONS

Functional outcome and living situation six months after a hip fracture is the same for patients treated with or without a care pathway.

Impact of Heart Failure on In-Hospital Outcomes after Surgical Femoral Neck Fracture Treatment

BACKGROUND

Femoral neck fracture (FNF) is a common condition with a rising incidence, partly due to aging of the population. It is recommended that FNF should be treated at the earliest opportunity, during daytime hours, including weekends. However, early surgery shortens the available time for preoperative medical examination. Cardiac evaluation is critical for good surgical outcomes as most of these patients are older and frail with other comorbid conditions, such as heart failure. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of heart failure on in-hospital outcomes after surgical femoral neck fracture treatment.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study using the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database, 2007-2015. We included patients older than 64 years treated for reduction and internal fixation of FNF. Demographic characteristics of patients, as well as administrative variables, related to patient's diseases and procedures performed during the episode were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 234,159 episodes with FNF reduction and internal fixation were identified from Spanish National Health System hospitals during the study period; 986 (0.42%) episodes were excluded, resulting in a final study population of 233,173 episodes. Mean age was 83.7 (±7) years and 179,949 (77.2%) were women (p < 0.001). In the sample, 13,417 (5.8%) episodes had a main or secondary diagnosis of heart failure (HF) (p < 0.001). HF patients had a mean age of 86.1 (±6.3) years, significantly older than the rest (p < 0.001). All the major complications studied showed a higher incidence in patients with HF (p < 0.001). Unadjusted in-hospital mortality was 4.1%, which was significantly higher in patients with HF (18.2%) compared to those without HF (3.3%) (p < 0.001). The average length of stay (LOS) was 11.9 (±9.1) and was also significantly higher in the group with HF (16.5 ± 13.1 vs. 11.6 ± 8.7; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with HF undergoing FNF surgery have longer length of stay and higher rates of both major complications and mortality than those without HF. Although their average length of stay has decreased in the last few years, their mortality rate has remained unchanged.

Does Comanagement of Patients With Hip Fracture Influence 30-Day Outcomes

INTRODUCTION

Comanagement of hip fractures is thought to optimize outcomes for these high-risk patients, but this practice is not universal. We aimed to determine whether comanagement of patients with hip fracture affects 30-day outcomes.

METHODS

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried for all hip fractures between January 2015 and January 2017, totaling 15 461 patients (144 hospitals). Patients were divided into 3 cohorts: 11 233 comanaged throughout stay (CM), 2537 partially comanaged during stay (PCM), or 1691 not comanaged (NCM), by orthopedic surgeons with medicine physicians or geriatricians. Data collected included demographics, hip fracture type, postoperative outcomes, and length of stay (LOS). Logistic regression and linear regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Both CM and PCM patients were older, with more dementia, poorer mobility, and more comorbidities than NCM patients. Mortality rates were 4.55%, 0.81%, and 0.33% for CM, PCM, and NCM, respectively, and risk-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were 1.63 (95% confidence interval = 1.22-2.23) and 1.22 (0.87-1.74) for CM and PCM, respectively, compared to NCM. Morbidity rates were 11.06%, 15.45%, and 7.63% for CM, PCM, and NCM, respectively, and ORs were 1.74 (1.41-2.16) and 1.94 (1.57-2.41) for CM and PCM, respectively, compared to NCM. Risk-adjusted mean square LOS was 6.38, 8.80, and 7.23 for CM, PCM, and NC, respectively (P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Comanaged patients with hip fracture had poorer cognition, function, and general health, with the shortest LOS. Surprisingly, NCM was associated with reduced morbidity and mortality, which may relate to them being the healthiest patients. Overall, our findings still support orthogeriatric comanagement in this high-risk group to maximize outcomes.

Reasons for delaying surgery following hip fractures and its impact on one year mortality

PURPOSE

The purposes of this study were to identify the reasons for delayed surgery following hip fractures and analyze the impact of these reasons on 1-year mortality.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study of 1234 patients with mean age of 83.1 (range 65-92, SD 8.0) who underwent hip fracture surgery compared three subgroups: (1) surgery within two days from admission (609 patients); (2) delayed surgery for medical reasons (286); and (3) delayed surgery for organizational causes (339). Medical reason was defined as the need of medical optimization of the patient prior to surgery. Pre-operative assessment was performed by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Hodkinson mental status, Katz index for activities of daily living, and Short-Form (SF-12) questionnaire. Univariate analyses were used (chi-square and Fisher exact or Mantel-Haenszel tests for categorical data, and variance analysis, Student t test, or Mann-Whitney U test for continuous data). Logistic regression models were used for influence of variables on complications and one year mortality.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in complications or one year mortality rates between patients with surgery within two days and those with delayed surgery for medical reasons. However, the patients with delayed surgery for organizational causes had significant higher rates of both complications and one year mortality compared to the other two groups (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that waiting time for hip fracture surgery more than two days was not associated with higher complication or mortality rate if waiting was to stabilize patients with active comorbidities at admission, compared to stable patients at admission with early surgery. Although early surgery within two days from admission is desirable for stable patients at admission, in patients with complex comorbidities, the surgery should be performed once they are optimized. However, the patients with delayed surgery for organizational reasons had a significant higher rate of post-operative complications and one year mortality compared to the other two groups.

Risk factors for mortality after surgery of osteoporotic hip fracture in patients over 65 years of age

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate, from a clinical perspective, and with easily identifiable variables, those factors that influence the survival of patients admitted to a care unit designed for the comprehensive treatment of patients with hip fracture after being surgically treated.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A prospective study was conducted on a cohort of patients (n=202) aged 65 years or older with a low impact hip fracture, who were surgically intervened in a tertiary hospital. An analysis was performed to determine mortality at 90 days, and at one and 2years after surgery using demographic, clinical, analytical, and functional variables.

RESULTS

The independent risk factors of mortality in the 3periods analysed were age (P=.047, P=.016, and P=.000 at 90 days, 1, and 2 years, respectively) and a low Barthel index (P=.014, P=.005, and P=.004 to 90 days, 1, and 2 years, respectively). Male sex (P=.004) and a high risk for anaesthesia (P=.011) were only independent risk factors of mortality at 2years after surgery.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Age and dependency were the major determining factors of mortality at 30 days, 1, and 2 years after surgery for hip fracture. Both are easily measurable to identify patients susceptible to poor outcomes, and could benefit from a more thorough care plan.

Risk-factors for surgical delay following hip fracture

OBJECTIVE

To identify pre-operative risk factors for surgical delay of more than 2 days after admission in patients older than 65 years with a hip fracture.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A prospective observational study was conducted on 180 hip fractures in patients older than 65 years of age admitted to our hospital from January 2015 to April 2016. The data recorded included, patient demographics, day of admission, pre-fracture comorbidities, mental state, level of mobility and physical function, type of fracture, antiaggregant and anticoagulant medication, pre-operative haemoglobin value, type of treatment, and surgical delay.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 83.7 years. The mean Charlson Index was 2.8. The pre-fracture baseline co-morbidities were equal or greater than 2 in 70% of cases. Mean timing of surgery was 3.1 days. At the time of admission, 122 (67.7%) patients were fit for surgery, of which 80 (44.4%) underwent surgery within 2 days. A Charlson index greater than 2, anticoagulant therapy, and admission on Thursday to Saturday, were independently associated with a surgical delay greater than 2 days.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of hip fracture patients undergoing surgery within 2 days is low. Risk factors associated to surgical delay are non-modifiable. However, their knowledge should allow the development of protocols that can reduce surgical delay in this group of patients.

Redefining the Economics of Geriatric Orthopedics

Introduction:

The heath care system in the United States is in the midst of a transition, in large part to help accommodate an older and more medically complex population. Central to the current evolution is the reassessment of value based on the cost utility of a particular procedure compared to alternatives. The existing contribution of geriatric orthopedics to the societal burden of disease is substantial, and literature focusing on the economic value of treating elderly populations with musculoskeletal injuries is growing.

Materials and Methods:

A literature review of peer-reviewed publications and abstracts related to the cost-effectiveness of treating geriatric patients with orthopedic injuries was carried out.

Results:

In our review, we demonstrate that while cost-utility studies generally demonstrate net society savings for most orthopedic procedures, geriatric populations often contribute to negative net society savings due to decreased working years and lower salaries while in the workforce. However, the incremental cost-effective ratio for operative intervention has been shown to be below the financial willingness to treat threshold for common procedures including joint replacement surgery of the knee (ICER US$8551), hip (ICER US$17 115), and shoulder (CE US$957) as well as for spinal procedures and repair of torn rotator cuffs (ICER US$12 024). We also discuss the current trends directed toward improving institutional value and highlight important complementary next steps to help overcome the growing demands of an older, more active society.

Conclusion:

The geriatric population places a significant burden on the health care system. However, studies have shown that treating this demographic for orthopedic-related injuries is cost effective and profitable for providers under certain scenarios.