Mobility, survival and nursing-home requirements after hip fracture.

A consecutive series of 117 patients treated for hip fracture were followed up prospectively for three years. The mortality was highest during the first year. The proportion living in nursing-homes was increased by 50% at one year and 25% at three years compared with before injury, but the absolute numbers were reduced because of mortality. Reduced pre-injury mobility greatly increased the risk of becoming institutionalized. The proportion of the survivors who walked without aids was reduced by more than half at one and three years. The proportion of those bedridden increased six fold. Among patients who walked without aids before fracture 31% needed two sticks or more and 7% were bedridden after one year. Among those who before fracture walked with one stick or more, the percentages were 91 and 43.