The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of rehabilitation policy following proximal femoral fracture at two adjacent hospitals. Patients transferred to a dedicated orthogeriatric rehabilitation unit had a significantly shorter length of stay compared with patients transferred to an elective orthopaedic ward at a distant site. 93% of patients returned to their previous accommodation from the rehabilitation unit, and 66% from the orthopaedic ward. Early discharge planning and co-ordination between members of the health care team are crucial in maximising the efficiency of rehabilitation following hip fractures in the elderly.
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