ABSTRACT
This study was carried postoperatively on 125 patients who had fractures around the hip to determine the effect of the operative delay on the postoperative complications. All patients were above the age of 60 years with a mean age of 66.3 years and were generally fit before surgery. The average follow-up period was at least one year. The operative delay was defined as an interval of three calendar days or more between the time of admission to the hospital and the operation. The pre-existing medical conditions were mainly grouped in diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiac diseases and chest diseases. The operative procedures that were done for the patients were the standard operations for neck femur fracture [56 cases], trochanteric femoral fractures [59 cases] and sub-trochanteric fractures [10 cases]. No specific preoperative medications were given other than those used to control the pre-existing medical conditions. It was concluded that operative delay of more than five calendar days after admission is an important predictor of mortality within one year for elderly patients who have hip fractures and who are able to walk and live at home before fracture. Optimally, such patients should have the operation within five calendar days after admission to the hospital