Longer term functional outcome and societal implications of upper limb fractures in the elderly.
To ascertain how they cope with upper limb fractures and the implications for health and social services (H&SS) a cohort of elderly patients was followed up. 42 of the original 51 (82%) patients were interviewed almost one and a half years after sustaining their fracture. Information was collected on ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL), general health, and use of H&SS help from informal carers. Although there was an overall improvement in the ability to perform ADL, many (26%) patients reported a residual difficulty. Informal carers provided most of the support with some contribution from the statutory agencies. Demographic changes with increasing numbers of elderly and increasing employment of married women--the traditional carers, and epidemiological changes with increasing age-specific incidence of upper limb fractures mean that H&SS provision in the future will need to be increased.
Madhok
R
R
Poole Hospital, Middlesbrough.
Green
S
S
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology; D012947:Social Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D014458:Ulna Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology