Comparative Analysis of Elderly Hip Fractures in COVID-19 Recovered Patients and Non-Infected Patients: Surgical Intervention, Postoperative Complications, and Short-term outcomes

Objectives: This study aims to compare surgical intervention, postoperative complications, and short-term outcomes of hip fracture surgery in elderly patients who have recovered from COVID-19 infection with those who have not been infected. Methods: Patients aged older than 65 years consecutively admitted hip fracture to the Trauma and Orthopedics Centre of a third-level hospital, between January and April 2023. Medical records and databases were reviewed from hospital information system. Patient information, including diagnosis, demographic characteristics, imaging data, laboratory examinations, treatments and length of hospital stay were collected. A structured follow-up assessment was conducted at 1, 3 and 6 months after hospital discharge. Mortality, rehospitalization and postoperative complication were recorded and compared. Results: Of 312 patients with hip fracture, 252 (mean age 78 years, female 69%) were enrolled. The basic patient information and surgery-related indicators showed no significant differences between the experimental group and the control group. Similarly, COVID-19 infection did not have a significant impact on hospital stay duration or short-term complications. However, the six-month postoperative survival rate was significantly lower in the infected group compared to the non-infected group. Conclusions and implications: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on global healthcare systems. Which may significantly affect postoperative survival compared to the non-infected group. Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 on musculoskeletal health and its implications for rehabilitation in this specific patient population.