Mortality Rates in Femoral Neck Fractures Treated With Arthroplasty in South Africa

Abstract

Objectives To investigate the mortality rate for neck of femur fractures treated with arthroplasty at a tertiary level unit in South Africa and to evaluate the effect of known risk factors for mortality in neck of femur fractures treated with arthroplasty in the South African context. Design Retrospective cohort study. The main outcome was to determine mortality rates during in hospital stay, at 3 months, 6 months 1 year post surgery. The secondary outcome was to determine factors influencing mortality at 30 days, 6 months and 12 months post-surgery. Results Mortality rate was 3.3% in hospital, 5.6% at 30 days and 26.7% at 1 year. Age >79, ASA score >3, and cementing of the femur had statistically increased mortality risk ( P < .001). Average length of hospital stay was 12.3 ± 5.1 days (range 3.0-41.0 days) with 73% of patients discharged back to pre-hospital home. Conclusion Mortality rates after femur neck fracture arthroplasty in South Africa are slightly higher at 1 year compared to international data. However, the rates are comparably low during hospital stay, 30 day and at 6 months post-surgical intervals.

The effect of a post-anaesthesia high-care unit (PAHCU) admission on mobilization, length of stay and in-hospital mortality post-surgery in low energy neck of femur fracture patients

“…Recent studies from South Africa (SA) reported 3.3% in-hospital mortality rate, 5.6% at 30 days and 26.7% at 1 year [ 7 ]. The incidence rate for FFH in SA is 68.6 patients per 100,000 population, occurring at a younger average age (60 years) than the international averages.…”