Early surgery following a hip fracture may reduce death risk for older people

Hip fractures in the elderly can be the catalyst for a downward spiral, causing further health complications, a poorer quality of life and sometimes death. But a new study finds that having early surgery for hip fractures may reduce the risk of death.

Researchers did a meta-analysis of 16 observational studies on early surgery outcomes for hip fractures that included mortality rates. The studies encompassed 13,478 people ages 60 and older.

After analyzing the data, the study authors discovered that those who had surgery less than 24 to 72 hours after the injury or from the time patients were admitted to surgery had a 19% lower death risk. After adjusting for pre-surgery health factors, early surgery was still linked to decreased mortality rates. Having surgery earlier may also be associated with a lower risk of pneumonia and pressure sores.

While some physicians advocate early surgery for hip fractures, others prefer to wait, believing it may lower the risk of complications.

The study was released today in the Canadian Medical Assn. Journal.

-- Jeannine Stein / Los Angeles Times