Adverse outcome of hip fractures in older schizophrenic patients.

The psychiatric and ambulatory course of 21 older chronic schizophrenic patients who sustained hip fractures was studied prospectively, and their walking ability after the fractures was compared to that of 25 nonpsychiatric hip fracture patients. Although the schizophrenic patients were younger when the hip fractures occurred, their recuperation and ambulatory outcome were significantly worse. The psychiatric course was assessed with a standardized rating scale that was administered 6 months and 1 year after the fractures and compared to similar ratings done before the fractures. Significant mental deterioration was found at 6 months after the fractures, with no further changes later.