[Functional recovery units state in orthogeriatrics according to data from the National Registry of Hip Fracture]

Abstract

Introduction: The National Registry of Hip Fractures (RNFC) facilitates knowledge of hip fracture process in Spain to clinicians and managers and is useful to the reduction of the results variability, including the destination at discharge after the hip fracture.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe functional recovery units (URFs) use for patients with hip fracture included in the RNFC and to compare the results of the different autonomous communities (AC).

Material and methods: An observational, prospective and multicenter study of several hospitals in Spain. Data from a RNFC cohort of patients admitted with hip fracture between 2017 and 2022 were analyzed, focusing on the location at discharge of the patients, specifically on transfer to the URF.

Results: 52,215 patients from 105 hospitals were analyzed, 9540 patients (18.1%) were transferred to URF upon discharge and 4595 (8.8%) remained in these units 30 days later, with a variable distribution between the different AC (0-49%) and variability of results in patients not recovering ambulation at 30 days (12.2-41.9%).

Conclusions: There is in orthogeriatric patient an unequal availability and use of URFs between different autonomous communities. The study of the usefulness of this resource can be of great value for decision-making in health policies.

Keywords: Fractura de cadera; Functional recovery unit; Hip fracture; Registro; Registry; Rehabilitación; Rehabilitation; Unidad de Recuperación Funcional.