Surgical delay

Surgical delay has been studied in 3 papers since 2021: 3 observational studies in people; 1 in the past year. The newest story, Oct 24, 2026: “Surgery delays were not linked to hip fracture deaths in Greenland”.

Exposure

3 papers study it3 findingsUpdated Oct 22, 2026

1 new paper in 30 daysSee all 3

“One-year mortality was lower in patients with a surgical delay of more than 48 h (HR:0.36; 95 % CI (0.14-0.91), p = 0.03).”

Does surgical delay time affect mortality and functional outcomes in elderly patients with hip fractures?Injury2024doi:10.1016/j.injury.2024.111672

1 lab in 2 countries

Humans3

What did studies of Surgical delay find?

Studies of Surgical delay measured 2 outcomes; the most studied are mortality (1 study) and postoperative complications (1).

Mortality

no changein humans1OR 1

1 study

Surgical delay has no effect on mortality in humans (30-day mortality OR 1.0, 95% CI 0.8–1.1; 1-year mortality OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.8–1.1).
“Mortality did not increase with surgical delay (30 days, OR = 1.0, 95% CI 0.8-1.1; 1 year, OR = 0.9, 0.8-1.1).”
Humanship fracture patients in Greenland30 days and 1 yearn = 262
Surgery delays were not linked to hip fracture deaths in Greenland
International journal of circumpolar healthOct 22, 2026

Postoperative complications

no changein humans1

1 study

Surgical delay has no effect on postoperative complications in humans (34 % vs 49 % vs 47 %, p = 0.067).
“Postoperative complications were reported in 34 % of patients in group A, 49 % of patients in group B, and 47 % of patients in group C (p = 0.067).”
Humansprimary hip fracturen = 357
Does surgical delay time affect mortality and functional outcomes in elderly patients with hip fractures?
InjuryOct 1, 2024

What is Surgical delay linked with?

Studies link Surgical delay with 1 measure, most often mortality (1 study).

Mortality

downin humans1HR 0.36

1 study

Surgical delay lowers the risk of mortality in humans (HR:0.36; 95 % CI (0.14-0.91), p = 0.03).
“One-year mortality was lower in patients with a surgical delay of more than 48 h (HR:0.36; 95 % CI (0.14-0.91), p = 0.03).”
Humansprimary hip fracture> 48 h vs ≤ 24 hn = 357
Does surgical delay time affect mortality and functional outcomes in elderly patients with hip fractures?
InjuryOct 1, 2024

Latest

1 paper in 12 months

International Journal of Circumpolar HealthOct 24

Surgery delays were not linked to hip fracture deaths in Greenland

Among 262 patients, average surgical wait was 91.4 hours, but longer waits were not associated with mortality at 30 days or one year.Among 262 patients, average surgical wait was 91.4 hours, but longer waits were not associated with mortality at 30 days or one year.

Cohort · 262 peopleHip fracture