Relationship between Nutrition Status and Activities of Daily Living of Post-operative Patients with Proximal Femoral Fractures

Abstract

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the relationship between nutritional status and Activities of Daily Living of patients with proximal femoral fractures. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 41 post-operative patients with proximal femoral fractures. The patients were divided into good nutrition, at risk of malnutrition (at-risk) and malnutrition groups based on their nutritional status evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment - Short Form (MNA-SF) on admission. Quadriceps muscle thickness, skeletal muscle mass index on admission, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) on admission and at discharge, and length of stay were compared among the groups. [Results] Only one patient belonged to the good nutrition group; whereas, there were 25 in the at-risk group, and 15 in the malnutrition group. The malnutrition group subjects had significantly thinner quadriceps muscles, lower FIM on admission and at discharge, and longer length of stay than subjects of the at-risk group. [Conclusion] Simultaneous management of exercise and nutrition is necessary for patients with proximal femoral fractures with malnutrition.