Urinary retention as a postoperative complication associated with functional decline in elderly female patients with femoral neck and trochanteric fractures: A retrospective study of a patient cohort.

Urinary retention (UR) has been recognized as one of the most common postoperative complications after hip surgery in elderly. The objective of the present study was to evaluate risk for postoperative complications of UR in elderly female patients with femoral neck fractures.We recruited 221 female patients (age 85.3 ±â€Š7.0 years) with a history of hip surgery carried out at Toyama Municipal Hospital. UR occurred in 34 out of 221 cases (15.4%). Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the risk factors for UR, including age, body mass index (BMI), serum albumin, cognitive impairment, and activities of daily living (ADL).The results showed significant association of UR with cognitive impairment (P = .005, odds ratio [OR] 4.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.53-11.03), and ADL (P = .029, OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.11-6.18), under adjustment with age and BMI.This study demonstrated that cognitive function and ADL were the important risk factors for UR, suggested that the postoperative management of UR is important with taking account of neurofunctional assistance and nursing care in daily living, especially in elderly female patients receiving surgery of femoral neck and trochanteric fractures.

The impact of hip fracture on health-related quality of life and activities of daily living: the SPARE-HIP prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: The medical morbidity and mortality associated with neck of femur fractures is well-documented, whereas there is limited data for patient-reported outcomes. The aim of this study was to characterize the impact of neck of femur fractures on activities of daily living and patient-reported health-related quality of life. METHODS: Design and participants: Multicentric prospective cohort study. Consecutive sample patients with fragility hip fracture over 50 years old admitted in 48 hospitals in Spain. OUTCOMES: daily living activity function (Barthel Index) and health-related quality of life (EQ-5D) pre-fracture, admission to hospital and at 1- and 4-month follow-up post-fracture. STATISTICS: Barthel and EQ-5D over time are described as mean (SD) and median (interquartile range). RESULTS: A total of 997 patients were recruited at baseline with 4-month outcomes available for, and 856 patients (89.5%). Barthel Index fell from 78.77 (23.75) at baseline to 43.62 (19.86) on admission to hospital with the fracture. Scores partially recovered to 54.89 (25.40) and 64.09 (21.35) at 1- and 4-month post-fracture, respectively. EQ-5D fell from a median of 0.75 (0.47-0.91) to - 0.01 (- 0.03 to 0.51) on admission. Partial recovery was observed again to (0.51 (- 0.06 to 0.67)) and (0.60 (0.10 to 0.80)) at 1- and 4-month post-fracture, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Hip fracture results in a large decline in the ability to perform activities of daily living and patient-reported health-related quality of life with only partial recovery amongst survivors 4-month post-fracture.

Neural predisposing factors of postoperative delirium in elderly patients with femoral neck fracture.

Elderly adults are more likely to develop delirium after major surgery, but there is limited knowledge of the vulnerability for postoperative delirium. In this study, we aimed to identify neural predisposing factors for postoperative delirium and develop a prediction model for estimating an individual's probability of postoperative delirium. Among 57 elderly participants with femoral neck fracture, 25 patients developed postoperative delirium and 32 patients did not. We preoperatively obtained data for clinical assessments, anatomical MRI, and resting-state functional MRI. Then we evaluated gray matter (GM) density, fractional anisotropy, and the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), and conducted a group-level inference. The prediction models were developed to estimate an individual's probability using logistic regression. The group-level analysis revealed that neuroticism score, ALFF in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and GM density in the caudate/suprachiasmatic nucleus were predisposing factors. The prediction model with these factors showed a correct classification rate of 86% using a leave-one-out cross-validation. The predicted probability computed from the logistic model was significantly correlated with delirium severity. These results suggest that the three components are the most important predisposing factors for postoperative delirium, and our prediction model may reflect the core pathophysiology in estimating the probability of postoperative delirium.

Good function and high patient satisfaction at mean 2.8 years after dual mobility THA following femoral neck fracture: a cross-sectional study of 124 patients.

AIMS: Our aim was to investigate function, health status and satisfaction in patients treated with primary dual mobility (DM) total hip arthroplasty (THA) after displaced femoral neck fracture (FNF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 2005-2011, 414 consecutive FNF patients received Saturne DM THA. At a minimum of 1-year follow-up, 124 (95 women) were evaluated with Oxford Hip Score (OHS), Harris Hip Score (HHS), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measure (EQ-5D) and two functional tests: Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Sit to Stand 10 times (STS). The FNF patients were matched 1:2 by age, sex and surgery date with patients receiving THA due to osteoarthrosis (OA group) and 1-year OHS and EQ5D were compared. FNF patients were matched by age and sex with the general population index (GPI) for EQ-5D comparison. RESULTS: Patient age at surgery after FNF was mean 74.8 (range 30-92) years. At mean follow-up of 2.8 (range 1.0-7.7) years, mean EQ-5D score was 0.79 (SD 0.15) in the FNF group, which was similar to the matched GPI (p = 0.4), but lower (p = 0.014) compared to the OA group. Mean OHS was 36.4 (SD 9.5) in the FNF group and 38.4 (SD 7.2) in the OA group (p = 0.18). HHS in the FNF group was 78.7 (SD 15.5). Mean TUG time was 13.5 (SD 4.9) secs, and mean STS was 37.9 (SD 15.3) secs. Eighty nine percent (n = 111) of FNF patients were satisfied with the operation result. CONCLUSION: DM THA following displaced FNF provides a good functional result and quality of life in addition to high patient satisfaction.

Functional outcome and health related quality of life after dual mobility cup total hip replacement for displaced femoral neck fractures in middle aged Egyptian patients.

AIM: This study was done to assess the functional and clinical results after one year of cemented THR with dual mobility cup for the treatment of fracture neck femur in active middle-aged patients in Egypt (Middle Eastern population). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 31 patients (32 hips) with displaced femoral neck fractures that were admitted to El Hadara University Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt. Their mean age was 66.4 ±â€¯5.9 years. Fifteen patients were females. All the patients were treated with total hip replacement using a cemented dual mobility cup (Ecofit® 2 M, Implantcast GmbH, Germany) total hip replacement through the standard posterior approach. Functional assessment was done using Harris Hip Score (HHS), SF-36 questionnaire for health related quality of life (HRQoL) with assistance of a physiotherapist. RESULTS: The mean HHS improved over the follow up period from 79.04 ±â€¯7.9 at 12 weeks to an average of 92.8 ±â€¯11.1 at 1 year follow up. HRQoL measures showed a pattern of initial drop at 3 months postoperatively, then a steady rise to be restored at 1 year as compared to the preoperative baseline measures. There were no dislocations encountered in this series over one year follow up. The following complications were encountered; 1 deep infection, 2 deep vein thrombosis, 2 heterotopic ossifications, and 1 patient died within one year after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Dual mobility cup total hip replacement is an acceptable method for treatment of displaced femoral neck fracture in active middle aged patients in Egypt as it provides pain relief and good function without compromising the stability.

Development of dementia in patients with femoral neck fracture who experience postoperative delirium-A three-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: It remains unclear to what extent postoperative delirium (POD) affects the incidence of dementia in hip fracture patients, and the methods used to detect delirium and dementia require validation. The aim of this study was to investigate the development of dementia within 3 years of femoral neck fracture repair surgery, with a focus on POD as a potential predictive factor. METHODS: Patients were assessed for cognition, delirium, depression, psychological well-being, and nutritional status during their hospitalization as well as 4, 12, and 36 months after the operation. Logistic regression models were used to analyse factors associated with POD and factors associated with the development of dementia. RESULTS: The study sample consisted of 135 patients without a history of dementia, of whom 20 (14.8%) were delirious preoperatively and 75 (55.5%) postoperatively. Three years after their operations, 43/135 patients (31.8%) were diagnosed with dementia. A greater portion of patients diagnosed with dementia (39/43, 90.6%) than patients with no dementia (36/92, 39.1%) were included among the 75 patients who had experienced POD (P < 0.001). In a logistic regression model, after adjustment for covariates (age, sex, diabetes, delirium pre-and postoperatively, hyperactive delirium, days with delirium, urinary tract infection, and Mini Nutritional Assessment score), POD emerged an independent predictor for the development of new dementia (odds ratio, 15.6; 95% confidence interval, 2.6-91.6) within 3 years after the operation. CONCLUSION: Geriatric hip fracture patients who exhibit POD should be monitored closely for the development of dementia.

Good functional outcome but not regained health related quality of life in the majority of 20-69 years old patients with femoral neck fracture treated with internal fixation: A prospective 2-year follow-up study of 182 patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Prospective studies on patient related outcome in patients <70years with a femoral neck fracture (FNF) are few. We aimed to investigate functional outcome and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in 20-69years old patients with a FNF treated with internal fixation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 182 patients, 20-69years with a FNF treated with internal fixation were prospectively included in a multicenter study. Follow up included radiographic and clinical examination at 4, 12 and 24 months. Collected data were hip function using Harris Hip Score (HHS), HRQoL (EQ-5D and SF-36), fracture healing and re-operations. RESULTS: At 24 months, HHS was good or excellent in 73% of the patients with a displaced fracture and 85% of the patients with a non-displaced fracture (p=0.15). Of the patients with displaced fracture (n=120), 23% had a non-union (NU) and 15% had an avascular necrosis (AVN) with a 28% re-operation rate. None of the patients with non-displaced fracture (n=50) had an NU, 12% had a radiographic AVN and 8% needed a re-operation. The mean EQ-5Dindex in patients with displaced fracture decreased from 0.81 to 0.59 at 4 months, 0.63 at 12 months and 0.65 at 24 months (p<0.001). The corresponding values for patients with non-displaced fracture were 0.88, 0.69, 0.75 and 0.74 respectively (p<0.001). The mean SF-total score in patients with displaced fracture decreased from 76 to 55 at 4 months, 63 at 12 months and 65 at 24 months (p<0.001). The corresponding values for patients with non-displaced fracture were 80, 67, 74 and 76 respectively (p<0.001). INTERPRETATION: Two thirds of the patients with displaced femoral neck fracture healed after one operation and three quarters reported good or excellent functional outcome at 24 months. However, they did not regain their pre-fracture level of HRQoL.

Femoral Neck Fractures in Adults Treated With Internal Fixation: A Prospective Multicenter Chinese Cohort.

INTRODUCTION: Although femoral neck fractures in young patients are rare and their complications are well-documented, there is a paucity of data on patient-reported outcomes for this population. The purpose of this study was to describe the quality of life and the effect of clinical complications on the outcomes of young patients with femoral neck fractures in a Chinese cohort. METHODS: In this prospective observational cohort study, patients aged 18 to 55 years admitted to one of three participating trauma hospitals in China for treatment of a femoral neck fracture were recruited. The primary outcome was the patient's health-related quality of life using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36) Health Survey at 1 year after injury. Associations between the primary outcome and potential predictors were explored with univariate and multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: One hundred seven patients (mean age, 44 years) completed 1-year follow-up. Nearly all patients were treated with closed reduction and screw fixation. Nine cases of nonunion, 7 cases of malunion, and 11 cases of osteonecrosis were identified. The mean SF-36 Physical Component Score was 48.6 ± 8.5, and the mean Mental Component Score was 51.0 ± 7.4. Fracture displacement, quality of reduction, and nonunion were associated with a poor Physical Component Score outcome. DISCUSSION: Our results demonstrate that the quality of life for patients after closed reduction and screw fixation of femoral neck fractures is similar to that of the general population, particularly when complications of nonunion and malunion are avoided. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I.

The difference in activity of daily living (ADL) and mortality in patients aged over 80 years with femoral neck fracture treated with hemiarthroplasty or osteosynthesis at 2 years of follow-up.

INTRODUCTION: Hip fractures are one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the elderly and outcomes following hip fracture have been the focus of several studies over recent decades. Among all types of fall-related injuries, hip fractures cause the greatest number of deaths, lead to severe health problems and reduce quality of life. Improving the outcome of hip fracture surgery has thus become one of the main areas of interest for orthopaedic surgeons. The aim of this study was to compare the difference in activity of daily living (ADL) and mortality between patients aged over 80 years with hip fracture treated with osteosynthesis versus prosthesis at 2 years of follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data were collected on admission and during in-hospital stay. Information recorded on admission included: age, sex, type and mechanism of fracture, functional and cognitive status, comorbidity, and severity of illness. Prefracture functional status was measured. The follow-up was clinical and radiographical, or was by telephone for patients who were not able to come to the clinic. Patients aged over 80 years who underwent a single surgical procedure treated with intramedullary nail or hemiarthroplasty were included in the study. RESULTS: A total of 174 patients (45 male and 129 female) were included in the study. The two treatment groups were comparable for all preoperative parameters except for preoperative haemoglobin, which was an average of 1g/dl higher in the patients given hemiarthroplasty compared with those treated with intramedullary nail (t-test: p<0.05). The average observation period was 594.99days; the number of deaths was 62 of 164 contacted patients, and the survival rate at 2 years was 62.2%. There was increased mortality in patients who underwent hemiarthroplasty (Log-rank Mantel-Cox, p: 0,048). The difference in ADL between preoperative and follow-up is not statistically significant between the two groups. DISCUSSION: In the literature, there are few specific studies that consider these parameters in this population. However, these findings are consistent with the findings from other studies. CONCLUSION: Patients who received hemiarthroplasty have a higher mortality risk than those treated with intramedullary nail; there are no differences in ADL at follow-up.

[THE USE OF THE METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE "ORTHOPEDIC INDEX" IN THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH FEMORAL NECK FRACTURE].

The choice of surgical strategy for the treatment of femoral neck fracture is a serious challenge to modern traumatology and orthopedics. Group I of this study was comprised of patients in whom orthopedic age was determined by our original method including assessment of the quality of life based on the SF-36 questionnaire. The somatic state of the patients was evaluated from the Charlson index and bone quality in the surgical area by densitometry. Patients of the control group were treated by the standard methods adopted in this country and abroad. It was shown that the difference between orthopedic and calendar ages results in the increase of the frequency of complications. The clinical and statistical results of the study indicate that the new method permits to reduce the number of revision interventions, decrease postoperative lethality, and improve the patients' quality of life.

Fixation using alternative implants for the treatment of hip fractures (FAITH): design and rationale for a multi-centre randomized trial comparing sliding hip screws and cancellous screws on revision surgery rates and quality of life in the treatment of femoral neck fractures.

BACKGROUND: Hip fractures are a common type of fragility fracture that afflict 293,000 Americans (over 5,000 per week) and 35,000 Canadians (over 670 per week) annually. Despite the large population impact the optimal fixation technique for low energy femoral neck fractures remains controversial. The primary objective of the FAITH study is to assess the impact of cancellous screw fixation versus sliding hip screws on rates of revision surgery at 24 months in individuals with femoral neck fractures. The secondary objective is to determine the impact on health-related quality of life, functional outcomes, health state utilities, fracture healing, mortality and fracture-related adverse events. METHODS/DESIGN: FAITH is a multi-centre, multi-national randomized controlled trial utilizing minimization to determine patient allocation. Surgeons in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia will recruit a total of at least 1,000 patients with low-energy femoral neck fractures. Using central randomization, patients will be allocated to receive surgical treatment with cancellous screws or a sliding hip screw. Patient outcomes will be assessed at one week (baseline), 10 weeks, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post initial fixation. We will independently adjudicate revision surgery and complications within 24 months of the initial fixation. Outcome analysis will be performed using a Cox proportional hazards model and likelihood ratio test. DISCUSSION: This study represents major international efforts to definitively resolve the treatment of low-energy femoral neck fractures. This trial will not only change current Orthopaedic practice, but will also set a benchmark for the conduct of future Orthopaedic trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The FAITH trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier NCT00761813).

Effect of depression on femoral head avascular necrosis from femoral neck fracture in patients younger than 60 years.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of depression on femoral head avascular necrosis (AVN) from femoral neck fracture in patients younger than 60 years and the relationship between depression and postoperative quality of life. The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) was completed by 641 patients (352 men and 289 women; average age, 41.7±10.2 years; range, 20-60 years) postoperatively. Patients were divided into groups according to BDI-II score: a depressed group (BDI-II score of 14 or higher) and a nondepressed group (BDI-II score lower than 14). They were followed for an average of 28 months (range, 24-37 months). The postoperative diagnosis was confirmed by typical radiographs and single photon-emission computed tomography. Quality of life among patients was assessed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire. The overall incidences of depression and AVN were 30.6% (196 of 641) and 20.9% (134 of 641), respectively. Ninety-four (48.0%) patients in the depressed group and 40 (9.0%) patients in the nondepressed group ultimately developed AVN. Symptoms of depression significantly affected AVN. In addition, depression predicted patients' quality of life, as did sex, partner status, employment status, living alone, frequency of exercise, severity of fractures, and length of hospital stay. In a multiple linear regression model analyzing all of these variables, depression was the best independent predictor of quality of life. Depression in patients younger than 60 years with femoral neck fractures may increase postoperative femoral head AVN risk and greatly affect patients' quality of life.

Increased risk of major depression in the three years following a femoral neck fracture--a national population-based follow-up study.

Femoral neck fracture is common in the elderly, and its impact has increased in aging societies. Comorbidities, poor levels of activity and pain may contribute to the development of depression, but these factors have not been well addressed. This study aims to investigate the frequency and risk of major depression after a femoral neck fracture using a nationwide population-based study. The Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database was used in this study. A total of 4,547 patients who were hospitalized for femoral neck fracture within 2003 to 2007 were recruited as a study group; 13,641 matched non-fracture participants were enrolled as a comparison group. Each patient was prospectively followed for 3 years to monitor the occurrence of major depression. Cox proportional-hazards models were used to compute the risk of major depression between members of the study and comparison group after adjusting for residence and socio-demographic characteristics. The most common physical comorbidities that were present after the fracture were also analyzed. The incidences of major depression were 1.2% (n = 55) and 0.7% (n = 95) in the study and comparison groups, respectively. The stratified Cox proportional analysis showed a covariate-adjusted hazard ratio of major depression among patients with femoral neck fracture that was 1.82 times greater (95% CI, 1.30-2.53) than that of the comparison group. Most major depressive episodes (34.5%) presented within the first 200 days following the fracture. In conclusion, patients with a femoral neck fracture are at an increased risk of subsequent major depression. Most importantly, major depressive episodes mainly occurred within the first 200 days following the fracture.

A case-control study examining inconsistencies in pain management following fractured neck of femur: an inferior analgesia for the cognitively impaired.

Previous research suggests individuals who suffer from cognitive impairment are less able to vocalise pain than the rest of the cognitively-intact population. This feature of cognitive impairment may be leading to a chronic underdetection of pain as current assessment tools strongly rely on the participation of the patient. To explore inconsistencies in pain management within the acute setting, we conducted a retrospective assessment of 224 patients presenting with fractured neck of femur at a large teaching hospital's accident and emergency (A&E) department between 2 June 2011 and 2 June 2012. These patients were split into either a cognitively-impaired or cognitively-intact cohort based on their Abbreviated Mental Test Scores. Patients with cognitive impairment, on average, received a weaker level of analgesia than individuals without impairment both in the ambulance and in A&E. In the ambulance, 45% of cognitively-impaired patients were prescribed no pain relief compared with just 8% of those individuals who remain cognitively intact. After arrival at A&E, these inconsistencies continued with 69% of the cognitively-intact cohort receiving the strongest opioid analgesia compared with just 37% of the cognitively-impaired cohort. The cognitively-impaired cohort would also wait on average an hour longer before receiving this initial pain relief. We believe that these differences stem from cognitively-impaired patients being unable to vocalise their pain through traditional assessment methods. This work discusses the potential development or adoption of a tool which can be applied in the acute setting and relies less on vocalisation but more on the objective features of pain, so making it applicable to cognitively-impaired individuals.

[Early results after surgical treatment of femoral neck fractures with total cementless hip arthroplasty]. / Wczesne wyniki leczenia operacyjnego zlaman szyjki kosci udowej calkowita alloplastyka bezcementowa stawu biodrowego.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to assess early results after the treatment of femoral neck fractures with the cementless hip arthroplasty as well as complications after the earlier fixation of these fractures in patients aged 55-70 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 40 cementless hip arthroplasty procedures with the use of Bicontact S endoprosthesis were performed, including 33 due to the femoral neck Garden III and IV type fractures, 7 due to the destabilization of the earlier performed bone fixation with DHS (Dynamic Hip Screw) or the nonunion after the fracture fixation. Postoperative complications as well as early clinical and radiological results were assessed. Outpatient follow-up examinations assessed patients using Harris Hip Score (HHS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), to estimate their quality of life and the level of contentment. RESULTS: The total cementless hip arthroplasty with the use of Bicontact endoprosthesis allows to achieve very good early clinical results in patients who have undergone the surgical procedure due to the femoral neck fracture and good clinical results in patients who have undergone this surgery because of complications after the fixation of fractures. In the examined group of patients early radiological results were good. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the very good and good early results of clinical trials can be assumed that the total cementless hip arthroplasty will be an effective and recommended method of treatment of femoral neck fractures and complications after the earlier fixation of these fractures in patients aged 55 to 70 years, but this requires further, long-term observation. Total hip arthroplasty, not the fixation, should be more often considered as a primary care management of fractures of this type because it allows for a pain-free walking faster and faster return to pre-injury functioning.

Fractura por estrés del cuello femoral en una niña con síndrome de Down / Femoral neck stress fractures in a young girl with Down’s syndrome

Las fracturas por estrés son lesiones que suelen estar en relación con ciclos repetidos de carga sobre un hueso normal sometido a un exceso de solicitaciones mecánicas, o bien sobre un hueso con resistencia menor. Se presenta el caso de una niña de 5 años con síndrome de Down que acude a la consulta por dificultad de la marcha y dolor inguinal izquierdo de 3-4 días de evolución. En la anamnesis, destaca la tendencia de la niña a realizar saltos repetidos con apoyo monopodálico sobre la extremidad inferior izquierda. La exploración radiológica reveló la existencia de una fractura por estrés del cuello femoral izquierdo. Tras un tratamiento conservador, la paciente presentó una evolución satisfactoria(AU)

Stress fractures are injuries that are often related to repeated cycles of loading on a normal bone subjected to excessive mechanical stress, as well on a bone of less resistance. We report the case of a 5 year old girl with Down syndrome and consults because of her walking difficulty and a left groin pain of 3-4 days duration. In the history highlights the tendency of the girl to make repetitive jumps in monopodal support on the left lower extremity. Radiographic examination revealed a stress fracture of the left femoral neck. After conservative treatment the patient had a satisfactory outcome(AU)

Symptom profile of postoperative delirium in patients with and without dementia.

This study compares the symptom profile of patients with postoperative delirium after femoral neck fracture surgery in those with and without dementia. In this study, 129 patients of age ≥70 years (mean age ±SD, 86±6 yr, 72% women) with postoperative delirium, were included. Delirium and dementia were diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) criteria. Of the 129 patients with delirium, 54 (42%) had a dementia disorder. Patients with delirium superimposed on dementia more often had any hyperactive and pure emotional delirium. Communication difficulties and symptoms such as restlessness/agitation, aggressive behavior, and irritability were more commonly found in the dementia group. In contrast, patients with delirium but without dementia were more often diagnosed with pure hypoactive and any psychotic delirium. The symptom profile of postoperative delirium varies according to whether it occurs in patients with or without dementia. This may indicate that postoperative delirium among patients with hip fracture differs based on the presence or absence of dementia.

The influence of process and patient factors on the recall of consent information in mentally competent patients undergoing surgery for neck of femur fractures.

INTRODUCTION: Informed consent is an ethical and legal prerequisite for major surgical procedures. Recent literature has identified 'poor consent' as a major cause of litigation in trauma cases. We aimed to investigate the patient and process factors that influence consent information recall in mentally competent patients (abbreviated mental test score [AMTS] ≥6) presenting with neck of femur (NOF) fractures. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted at a tertiary unit. Fifty NOF patients (cases) and fifty total hip replacement (THR) patients (controls) were assessed for process factors (adequacy and validity of consent) as well as patient factors (comprehension and retention) using consent forms and structured interview proformas. RESULTS: The two groups were matched for ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) grade and AMTS. The consent forms were adequate in both groups but scored poorly for validity in the NOF group. Only 26% of NOF patients remembered correctly what surgery they had while only 48% recalled the risks and benefits of the procedure. These results were significantly poorer than in THR patients (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that NOF patients are poor at remembering the information conveyed to them at the time of consent when compared with THR patients despite being intellectually and physiologically matched. We suggest using preprinted consent forms (process factors), information sheets and visual aids (patient factors) to improve retention and recall.

Femoral neck fractures in Lithuania and Sweden. The differences in care and outcome.

PURPOSE: Hip fractures constitute a serious and common health problem from both individual and public health perspectives. Unified data collection and comparison between countries is recognised as an effective tool for care improvements. However, the variation in patients' demography, treatment methods and other local cultural aspects in different countries should be considered. The aim of our study was to compare femoral neck fracture patients treated in Kaunas and Lund, concerning functional outcome and quality of life. METHODS: We investigated 99 patients treated by arthroplasty in Kaunas Clinics and 117 patients in Lund University Hospital. Patients were investigated according to the National Swedish Hip Fracture Register model and were followed up for a period of four months after the injury. The patient's place of residence, mobility, complaints of pain and additional hospital stay were recorded. The EQ-5D questionnaire was used to evaluate quality of life. RESULTS: Patients in Kaunas were significantly younger, had lower ASA grade and were more mobile before trauma and at four moths follow-up. However, when comparing quality of life at four months follow-up between the institutions, Lund patients reported significantly better self care, felt less pain and discomfort, and had less symptoms of anxiety and depression. CONCLUSIONS: The difference observed in quality of life rating between institutions might be related to local cultures of the countries and should be considered when comparing the data.

[Psychological aspects of rehabilitation of the elderly people after femoral neck fracture]. / Psychologiczne aspekty rehabilitacji osób starszych po zlamaniu szyjki kosci udowej.

Mobility impairments, joint deformations, osteoporosis, weakening of sensory functions and orientation in space, which are quite common in senility expose elderly individuals to various kinds of falls and accidents. Femoral neck fractures and pertrochanteric fractures are the most frequent traumatic injuries among the elderly patients. During the post-surgical period or rehabilitation process it is of vital importance that treatment activities should enable patients to function in social and family environment in the same way as before the accident. Furthermore, it is crucial that rehabilitation procedures be of multi-faceted character - owing to the psycho-physical unity of the human being, they should not focus merely on physical treatment of the patient, but also on their psychological condition which is particularly significant in the whole treatment process. Apart from that, it is essential to consider the level of anxiety and motivation of the patient and to offer them professional psychological support and assistance.