Current practices and challenges in orthogeriatrics: findings from a European six-center survey

Purpose To describe reported orthogeriatric pathways and shared gaps across six European hospital units managing older adults with hip fractures, as a baseline for a quality-improvement (QI) project. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional online survey among healthcare professionals involved in orthogeriatric care in six units in Portugal, Finland, Germany, Romania, Italy, and Malta. The questionnaire explored prompt geriatric assessment in the emergency department, pain management, delirium assessment, urinary catheter policies, nutritional management, multidisciplinary team organization, osteoporosis treatment, and fall-prevention referral. Results A total of 163 professionals completed the survey. Timely admission to the orthogeriatric unit, early mobilization, and nutritional management were commonly reported, while urinary catheter policies, osteoporosis treatment, and fall-prevention referrals were infrequently reported across units. Conclusions This survey highlights elements of shared routine care and common actionable gaps, providing a baseline for targeted QI projects in orthogeriatric care, especially in secondary fracture prevention.