Article ID: 11508
Purpose: To clarify the effect of fracture type and displaced fracture of the lesser trochanter on short-term physical function at 4 weeks after surgery in trochanteric fractures.
Methods: Ninety-five patients with trochanteric fractures were enrolled in the study. In order to assess the postoperative physical function, we evaluated pain at rest, pain with weight bearing, range of motion (hip flexion, hip extension, hip abduction, and knee flexion), muscle strength (unaffected/affected hip abductor strength and unaffected/affected knee extensor strength), and ambulatory ability 4 weeks postoperatively. We investigated the effect of fracture type and displaced fracture of the lesser trochanter on postoperative physical function, using analysis of covariance. The independent variables were fracture type (stable or unstable) and displaced fracture of the lesser trochanter; the dependent variable was the postoperative physical function; and the covariates were age, degree of independence for activities of daily living in the disabled elderly before injury, and degree of independence for activities of daily living in the elderly with dementia.
Results: Postoperative physical functions that correlated with the fracture type were pain with weight bearing, range of motion (hip flexion and knee flexion), affected hip abductor strength, affected/unaffected knee extensor strength, and ambulatory ability. Postoperative physical function that correlated with the displaced fracture of the lesser trochanter was the ambulatory ability.
Conclusion: The results suggest that short-term physical function at 4 weeks after surgery in unstable trochanteric fractures and displaced fracture of the lesser trochanter was poor, considering the effect of age, degree of independence for activities of daily living in the disabled elderly before injury, and degree of independence for activities of daily living in elderly with dementia.
