Analysis of muscle atrophy after hip fracture in the elderly.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between muscle atrophy, ambulatory ability, and fracture type, and to make a specific rehabilitation regimen for each fracture type.


METHODS
Observational study.


METHODS
Public hospital.


METHODS
Consecutive patients (N=53) with hip fracture (mean age, 83.6y) who underwent operative treatment.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
The ambulatory ability score and the cross-sectional areas of lower-limb muscles as measured on computed tomography scans.


RESULTS
Muscle atrophy was not related to fracture type. Although the mean ambulatory ability score decreased significantly from 4.5+/-0.3 points prior to injury to 3.0+/-0.6 points 1 month postadmission, the degree of muscle atrophy was not associated with the decrease in ambulatory ability.


CONCLUSIONS
It seems likely that other factors are more important than muscle atrophy and fracture type in determining recovery after surgical repair of a fracture and that there is no need for rehabilitation regimens based on fracture types.
Ogawa
Hiroyasu
H
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gifu University, School of Medicine, Gifu, Gifu, Japan. h-ogawa@k7.dion.ne.jp
Oshita
Hidefumi
H
Ishimaru
Daichi
D
Yamada
Kazunari
K
Shimizu
Takashi
T
Koyama
Yoshinari
Y
Akaike
Atsushi
A
Hori
Hirohiko
H
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed