Proximal femur fracture in older patients – rehabilitation and clinical outcome

Background: hip fracture is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in older people; optimal post‐surgical treatment is a matter of controversy. Objective: to examine the effects of rehabilitation on the clinical outcome following surgical treatment of hip fracture. Design: prospective longitudinal study in three groups of patients with different post‐surgical care. Methods: initial screening of 283 elderly patients with proximal femur fracture; documentation of medical and social history and clinical data; geriatric assessments (Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) during hospital stay and follow‐up for 12 months. One hundred and forty‐five patients (≥65 years) of normal mental status were eligible for the study. Successful follow‐up could be monitored in 120 and 117 patients for 6 and 12 months, respectively. Sixty‐nine and 39 patients underwent supervised inpatient rehabilitation in an orthopaedic or geriatric hospital, respectively (intervention groups A and B, respectively) whereas 34 patients received no special rehabilitation as they were directly discharged home (control group C). Results: initially a fall‐/surgical‐induced reduction (P