Differentiated care of hip fracture in the elderly. Mean hospital days and results of rehabilitation.

Two series of elderly patients with hip fracture were compared with regard to hospitalization time and social situation after discharge from hospital. Our series included 131 patients from 1966 with late weight-bearing and 362 patients from 1972--1973, mobilized with early weight-bearing. Approximately two-thirds of the patients came from their own homes and one-third from institutions. The mean hospital stay for patients discharged to their own homes was 7 weeks in 1966 and 3--4 weeks in 1972--1973. This decrease in hospitalization time did not cause any increase in the proportion of patients discharged to institutions. Thus, among patients admitted from their own homes 48 per cent of the survivors returned directly home in 1966, and 62 per cent in 1972--1973. As compared to the prefracture mobility, postoperative mobility at 2 weeks proved to be a better indicator of the patient's chances of returing home. This may be a helpful guide when planning the aftercare of these patients.