• Merete Gregersen, Niels Christian Jensen, Marianne M Mørch, and Else Marie Damsgaard.
• Geriatrisk Afdeling, Arhus Universitetshospital, Arhus Sygehus, DK-8000 Arhus C, Denmark. meregreg@rm.dk
• Ugeskr. Laeg. 2009 Nov 9; 171 (46): 3336-40.

IntroductionHip fracture is the most common cause of long hospitalisation among elderly and is increasing in the group of elderly aged 85+ years. Hip fractures are associated with a host of factors and mainly caused by falls and osteoporosis.Material And MethodsThe Geriatric Team of the orthopaedic ward, geriatric rehabilitation and follow-home function (GO) is compared to traditional orthopaedic treatment (ORT) among elderly aged 65+ with respect to: haemoglobin difference before surgery and 3-6 months after fracture, osteoporosis treatment, length of stay, change in accommodation, readmission and mortality within six months after admission and incidence of new fracture within two years.ResultsMedian length of stay was reduced from 15 till 13 days. Significantly more were treated with calcium/D-vitamin and bisphosphonate. The risk of a new fracture within two years was lower (incidence rate ratio = 0,72 (95% confidence interval (CI: 0,39-1,32)). Geriatric intervention did not reduce readmission (odds ratio (OR)= 1,09 (95% CI: 0,71-1,67)) and mortality (OR = 1,22 (95% CI: 0,71-2,11)).ConclusionA combined geriatric orthopaedic effort in elderly with hip fracture seems to improve the quality as well as the efficiency of treatment. The concept would benefit from further development and combination with other initiatives aimed at accelerating the treatment pathway of the elderly.

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