Functional Outcomes and Quality of Life in Elderly Patients Following Intertrochanteric Femur Fracture: A One-Year Follow-Up Study.

OBJECTIVES

Intertrochanteric femur fractures are prevalent injuries among the elderly, significantly affecting their quality of life (QOL) and functional status. This study aimed to evaluate functional outcomes and QOL in elderly patients one year after sustaining an intertrochanteric femur fracture.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study was conducted at Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan, Iran. The functional status and QOL of 79 elderly patients with intertrochanteric femur fractures, who were at least one year post-injury were assessed between February 2020 to February 2021.Data were collected from patient's records, which included sociodemographic and clinical information at the time of admission. Functional status was evaluated using the Barthel Index, and QOL was assessed using the shortened form of the SF-36 questionnaire.

RESULTS

The study population comprised 60.8% women, with a mean age of 79.81±7.07 years. The mean of the Barthel index score was 11.49±2.22, indicating that participants achieved approximately 60% of the maximum functional score. The mean overall QOL score was 50.59±9.54, suggesting that patients attained approximately 51% of the maximum QOL score. A final linear regression model indicated that increased age was significantly associated with declines in both functional abilities (R²=0.53, <0.001) and QOL (R²=0.39, <0.001). Additionally, patients who received physiotherapy demonstrated significantly better functional outcomes than those who did not.

CONCLUSION

This study highlighted the significant impact of intertrochanteric femur fractures on the functional status and QOL of older adults. The findings emphasized the critical role of rehabilitation services, such as physiotherapy, in improving patient outcomes. Further research is warranted to explore the influence of comorbidities and optimize interventions for this vulnerable population.