BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether surgical delay or the educational level of surgeon is associated with early mortality in patients with distal femoral fractures.

METHODS: 392 consecutive patients aged ≥50 years registered in the Danish Fracture Database for surgery of a non-pathological, closed, low-energy distal femoral fracture (AO33A-C) were included. Data included age, gender, American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) score, type of fracture, educational level of surgeon and surgical delay. Educational level of surgeon was defined as "attending or above as surgeon", "attending or above as supervisor" or "below attending alone". Surgical delay was defined as hours (h) from radiological diagnostics until onset of surgery. Mortality data was provided by The Civil Registration System. Mortality rates were calculated using multiple logistical regression analysis.

RESULTS: Mean age was 76 years (range 50-101), 79% of patients were female and 65% had an extra articular fracture (AO33A). 8% were operated within 12h, 33% within 24h, 67% within 48h and 83% within 72h. Educational level of surgeon was "attending or above as surgeon" in 56% of all cases and "attending or above as supervisor" in 33%. Mortality was 7.1% at day 30 and 12.5% at day 90. The logistical regression analysis did not demonstrate any association between surgical delay or educational level of surgeon and mortality. Increasing age, male gender and ASA score >2 significantly increased both 30-day and 90-day mortality.

CONCLUSION: No association between surgical delay or educational level of surgeon and mortality was found. These findings do not support the development of guidelines for decreasing surgical delay in this population.