Post-Operative Delirium in Elderly Surgical Patients

We give sedative drugs to patients having spinal anesthesia so they are "asleep" (sedated)
while we are fixing their broken hips. The spinal anesthesia provides pain relief at the site
of surgery, while the sedative drugs keep people "asleep" during the procedure. We want to
find out whether the amount of sedation we give might (1) make patients be confused when they
wake up or (2) have anything to do with how well patients can do their ordinary daily
routines a few months after their surgery.

Inclusion Criteria:

- is 65 years of age or older at admission;

- has surgical treatment of a traumatic hip fracture;

- has participating surgeon;

- has Mini-Mental Status Exam score of 15 or higher;

- able to read/write/speak/hear/understand English;

- gives informed consent;

- receives spinal anesthesia

Exclusion Criteria:

- receives general anesthesia;

- does not write/write/speak/hear/understand English;

- has severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);

- has severe congestive heart failure (CHF);

- has Mini-Mental Status Exam score less than 15;

- declines to give informed consent;

- age less than 65 years at admission;

- attending surgeon does not participate in study