“Orthogeriatric Care” for Elders with Hip Fractures

Some practice guidelines recommend comprehensive geriatric care as an adjunct to surgery for elders with hip fractures, but standards for such care and supporting evidence have been lacking.

Norwegian researchers randomized 397 home-dwelling elders (age, ≥70) with hip fractures to receive care on either an orthopedics ward (routine care) or a comprehensive geriatric inpatient service (“orthogeriatric care”). Patients in both groups received standard surgical interventions and physical therapy. Comprehensive geriatric care involved broad assessments and treatment of medical problems and early initiation of mobilization, rehabilitation, and discharge planning. The comprehensive geriatric unit employed more nurses, physical therapists, and occu…