Correlation between pre-injury mobility and ASA score with the mortality following femoral neck fracture in elderly

A poor pre-injury mobility and high American Society of Anaesthiologist (ASA) grading is thought to be associated with a poor survival following surgical treatment of femoral neck fracture in the elderly. Hence there are concerns among orthopaedic surgeons about surgical treatment in this group of patients. In this retrospective study, the pre-injury mobility and ASA scores of 401 patients with fractured neck of femur treated by surgery was assessed in relation to mortality following surgery within the first 30 days of injury. Following surgery, a temporary deterioration in the ASA grading and mobility was noticed. Patients who required intensive medical care following surgery had higher mortality rate. The mortality was 15% among patients with ASA III and 40% among patients with ASA IV. 14% of 65 immobile patients, 18% of those mobile with Zimmer frame passed away after surgery for femoral neck fracture. 6.1% of ASA I scorers died compared with 40% of ASA IV scorers; this difference was statistically significant (χ²=13.883, df=1, P<0.001). Significant number of patients with ASA-IV (60%) and immobile patients (88%) survived following surgery for femoral neck fracture. Poor pre-injury mobility and high ASA scoring are associated with higher early mortality following surgery for femoral neck fracture, however, this should not preclude surgery for patients with poor pre-injury ASA grading and mobility sustaining femoral neck fracture, as significant number of our patients survived.