Abstract
We performed a retrospective study of the influence of dementia on ambulatory ability after operation for trochanteric fracture of femur.
Between 1997 and 2004 we operated on 94 patients for trochanteric fracture of the femur. There were 25 men and 69 women who were, at operation, from 59 to 96-years-old (mean 84 years). We divided them into two groups. There were 44 patients with dementia (D group), and 50 patients without dementia (ND group). We classified ability of ambulation into 4 grades: I) walking with/without one cane, II) walking with walker, III) wheel chair, IV) bed rest.
We performed osteosyntheses with Ender’s nails for all people.
The patient’s ambulatory ability before injury was compared to that after operation in all 94 cases. In D group, patients of grade I had significantly reduced postoperative walking ability, while in ND group, they didn’t. In the D group, there was no postoperative improvement in ambulatory ability after 5 weeks, but postoperative improvement in ND group continued for 8 weeks after operation.
