Hip fracture surgery delays put vulnerable seniors at risk, according to a new article by a Canadian public health expert published in Hospital News.
The article, written by Jason M. Sutherland, PhD, MSc, BA, professor of health services and policy and director of the Centre for Health Services and Policy Research in the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia, states that delays beyond 48 hours for hip fracture surgery in older adults significantly increase the risk of death, complications such as postoperative pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis or muscle atrophy, and longer hospital stays.
Dr. Sutherland cites new Canadian Institute for Health Information data that shows many of the country’s hospitals are missing that recommended surgical window, with some major centers reporting rates below 60 percent.
He joins other experts in calling for policy changes to improve outcomes for seniors, such as prioritizing emergency surgeries, more flexible staffing models and quicker patient stabilization.
“When the waits are longer than two days, or 48 hours, the risks to the patient skyrocket and the consequences are potentially severe,” writes Dr. Sutherland. “Clinical research shows that delaying hip fracture surgery is associated with higher likelihood of mortality and prolonged expensive hospitalizations…It is past time to treat broken hips with the urgency they demand and ensure our vulnerable residents get the timely surgery they deserve.”
Read Dr. Sutherland’s full article here.
