Hip fractures are one of the most common reasons older adults come into hospital — but how dangerous is hip fracture surgery really? In this episode, we go beyond the operation to explore what frailty means, how it shapes outcomes, and why managing it is often more challenging than fixing the bone. We dive into the comprehensive geriatric assessment and unpack the core pillars of acute hip fracture care — Haemorrhage, Immobility, and Pain (HIP) — showing how each can make or break recovery. Along the way, we highlight the lessons hip fracture care offers for treating older patients more holistically, and why multidisciplinary teamwork is essential for better outcomes.

Links:

‘Hip Fracture – the Cardiff approach’ on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH4P3rNfQEEswi7nEQQLTyyz7b2XVB4Ez

NFHD: ⁠https://www.nhfd.co.uk/⁠

Understanding mortality rates after hip fracture repair using ASA physical status in the National Hip Fracture Database: Johansen et al. Anaesthesia 2017 ⁠https://doi.org/10.1111/anae.13908⁠

Krishnan M, Beck S, Havelock W, Eeles E, Hubbard R, Johansen A. Predicting outcome after hip fracture: using a frailty index to integrate comprehensive geriatric assessment results Age Ageing 2013 https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article-abstract/43/1/122/23338?redirectedFrom=fulltext

Questions and suggestions? Email: Raihaan.Biju@wales.nhs.net