Management of hip fractures among elderly patients at Jordan University Hospital: A cross-sectional study

Background: This study compared the practice of elderly hip fractures management at Jordan University Hospital against the practice recommended by American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Methods: Medical records between Oct 1, 2017, and Oct 31, 2018, were reviewed retrospectively. Inclusion criteria included patients over the age of 65 yr who were admitted from the emergency department. Patients excluded from the study were involved in motor vehicle accidents, had pathological fractures, or were transferred from other hospitals. One hundred and thirteen patients were included. Results: All patients received venous thromboembolism prophylaxis, and none had preoperative traction. Surgery was done within 48 hr in 83% (94/113) of patients. All patients with unstable femoral neck fractures underwent arthroplasty. Sliding hip screws were used in 93.5% (29/31) of stable intertrochanteric fractures, but cephalomedullary devices were used in 86.7% of unstable fractures (46 patients). Rehabilitation was done for a majority of patients. Unfortunately, preoperative regional analgesia was not used at all. Bipolar heads were used in a majority of hemiarthroplasty cases. A blood transfusion threshold of no higher than 8 g/dL was only followed in 16 cases. Only 23.9% of patients continued physical therapy at home. Fewer than one-third of the patients underwent nutritional assessment or support. Only 15 patients received a secondary mode of analgesia postoperatively. Vitamin D and calcium were prescribed for less than 50% of patients. Only 10.6% were evaluated for osteoporosis after fracture. Conclusions: Compliance with AAOS guidelines is reasonable, and it can be increased by following recommendations regarding: preoperative analgesia, femoral head type, blood transfusion threshold, home physical therapy, nutritional assessment, pain management, vitamin D and calcium supplementation, and osteoporosis treatment.