Hip replacement delays

Delays in surgery for hip fracture have a significant effect on short and longer term outcome. An Israeli multicentre survey conducted over four years found that people who had surgery within two days of fracture had lower mortality while in hospital, and at one month and one year, than did those who waited for more than four days for surgery. Large variations were seen between hospitals, and the authors call for a prompt review of quality improvement (International Journal for Quality in Health Care 2007;19:170-6 doi: 10.1093/intqhc/mzm003).