Physiotherapists predict discharge destination after hip fracture

Abstract The purpose was to investigate the predictive validity of discharge destination of two commonly used assessment tools and baseline variables in patients with femoral neck fracture. Thirty-two consecutive patients with a femoral neck fracture were assessed by an independent physiotherapist on days 3–5 post-surgery. Follow-up telephone interviews with structured questions were conducted at 3 weeks and 4 months post-surgery. The Swedish version of the Elderly Mobility Scale (Swe M-EMS) had an inverted correlation with discharge destination (rs=−0.423). Age (rs=0.389), living alone or with someone (rs=−0.593) and the physiotherapy evaluation (rs=0.516) also correlated with discharge destination. The Timed Up & Go (TUG) (rs=0.085) and pre-fracture activity level (rs=0.186) did not correlate with discharge destination. The Swe M-EMS may be considered a predictor of discharge destination in patients with a femoral neck fracture living in the community prior to fracture and with normal mental state, but not an independent predictor. We contend that the Swe M-EMS could be used in combination with predictive factors such as age, living alone or with someone and pre-fracture activity level.