Findings from a study published in the June issue of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery suggest that the hour at which a hip fracture surgical procedure is performed (normal, after hours, overnight) may not affect the quality of the procedure nor increase the probability of a postoperative adverse event. 

The authors reviewed the outcomes of 87,647 patients treated surgically for hip fracture, of which 68 percent underwent surgery after hours (5:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. or over the weekend), 31.1 percent underwent surgery during normal hours (7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), and 1 percent underwent surgery overnight (12:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.). At up to 6-month follow-up, they found that adverse outcomes were similar across all cohorts. Learn more...