Home care after hip surgery increases the chances for a healthy recovery

Partial hip surgery is a common treatment after a hip fracture, especially for frail elderly patients.

A broken hip can be the start of health issues that can ultimately lead to death. Approximately 15 to 20 percent of patients die within one year of a fracture.

Canadian researchers found that patients who received home care after such surgery showed much better outcomes than those who did not receive follow-up care at home.

In a study that looked at over 10,000 patients, those people who received home care were 43 percent less likely to die in the first three months after surgery than the patients who did not receive home care.

But, less than 20 percent of patients discharged from the hospital received home care.

People who received home care support tended to be younger, and treated in a teaching hospital. Researchers said that the results of the study suggested that many deaths could be prevented if more home care is given.