Introduction: We derived an exhaustive operative and supervision guideline for the treatment of hip fractures from the current international and own published literature, and implemented the guidelines in our department.

Methods: 1274 unselected consecutive patients admitted with a hip fracture were included, 336 of these prospectively after implementation of the new guideline. Demographic parameters, hospital treatment and re-operations were assessed from patient journals. Re-operations were recorded after six months.

Results: 95% (320/336) of operative procedures were found to have followed the new guideline treatment compared to 78% (733/938) prior to its introduction (p< 0.001 X2). Retrospectively we found that only 12% (121/1053) of operative procedures performed as the new guideline prescribes were re-operated compared to 24% (53/221) of operative procedures performed with other methods (p< 0.001 X2). In logistic regression analysis combining sex, age, ASA score, cognitive function, new mobility score, time from admission to operation and level of surgeon’s experience, not following the guideline was the only significant predictor for re-operation (p< 0.001 log. reg.)

After implementing the guideline, the rate of unsupervised junior registrars performing operations declined from 20% (188/938) to 6% (21/336, p< 0.001 X2). The rate of reoperations declined from 15% (139/938) to 10% (35/336, p=0.044 X2, p=0.043 log.reg.), with a 20% (85/436) to 13% (23/174) decline for intracapsulary and an 11% (54/502) to 7% (12/162) decline for extracapsulary fractures.

Conclusion: An exhaustive operative guideline for hip fracture treatment can be implemented. In our case, the guideline both raised the rate of supervision and reduced the rate of reoperations.