Subject(s)
Health Services for the Aged/trends , Hospital Units/trends , Palliative Care/methods , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , England , Humans , State MedicineABSTRACT
All elderly patients with extracapsular hip fractures seen in hospitals in Newcastle upon Tyne over a 12-month period were studied and followed up for six months. At one of the hospitals, patients were randomised to treatment by AO dynamic hip-screw or by traction. Complications specific to the two treatments were low, and general complications, six-month mortality and prevalence of pain, leg swelling and unhealed sores, showed no difference between the two modes of treatment. Operative treatment gave better anatomical results and a shorter hospital stay, but significantly more of the patients treated by traction showed loss of independence six months after injury.
Subject(s)
Hip Fractures/therapy , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Bone Plates , Clinical Trials as Topic , Female , Fracture Fixation, Internal , Hip Fractures/diagnostic imaging , Hip Fractures/surgery , Humans , Length of Stay , Male , Middle Aged , Postoperative Complications , Radiography , Random Allocation , TractionABSTRACT
Ninety-nine residents, 10% of the total population of elderly in Part III accommodation in Newcastle upon Tyne, were examined for the presence of psychiatric disorder, tested for cognitive impairment, and rated for the presence of confusion. Those allocated a diagnosis of dementia were most impaired and confused, and those living in specialist homes for the mentally infirm were more impaired than other residents. Confusion ratings, which proved very simple and quick to perform, correlated highly with the results of testing for the presence of cognitive impairment--a slightly more laborious and less universally applicable procedure. The Confusion Rating therefore offers a reliable and easy method for identifying the prevalence of dementia among residents of institutions.