A new algorithm for hip fracture surgery

Abstract

Background and purpose Treatment of hip fracture patients is controversial. We implemented a new operative and supervision algorithm (the Hvidovre algorithm) for surgical treatment of all hip fractures, primarily based on own previously published results.Methods 2,000 consecutive patients over 50 years of age who were admitted and operated on because of a hip fracture were prospectively included. 1,000 of these patients were included after implementation of the algorithm. Demographic parameters, hospital treatment, and reoperations within the first postoperative year were assessed from patient records.Results 931 of 1,000 operative procedures were performed according to the algorithm, as compared to only 726 of 1,000 prior to its introduction (p Interpretation It is possible to implement an algorithm for treatment of all hip fracture patients in a large teaching hospital. In our case, the Hvidovre algorithm both raised the rate of supervision and reduced the rate of reoperations. The reduced reoperation rate saved many hospital bed-days.