Perioperative Delirium in Hip Surgery in the Elderly

Delirium is one of the most common complications of hip fracture surgery. There are no studies in Uruguay on this subject. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of delirium in the perioperative period of hip fracture surgery, to describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the sample and the association between delirium and variables of interest. An observational, analytical, prospective, single cohort study was conducted. 50 older adults admitted to the National Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, for hip fracture, candidates for surgery, were recruited over a period of 4 months. They were evaluated before and after surgery. A non-probabilistic sample was selected. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Hospital de Clinicas of Montevideo. Average age was 83 years. The frequency of delirium was 42%, 28% before surgery and 14% in the postoperative period. The frequency of delirium in those aged 80 years or older was 53.3%. A statistically significant association was found between age over 80 years and baseline functional status and the development of delirium. This frequency is similar to that found in international studies. The size and selection of the sample may have influenced secondary outcomes. Delirium is frequent in this context and highlights the need for a multidisciplinary and protocolized approach to the elderly population undergoing orthopedic surgery.