[Independence in activities of daily living 6 months after surgery in previously independent elderly patients with hip fracture caused by a fall].
OBJECTIVE
To measure recovery of independence in activities of daily living (ADL) 6 months after surgery in elderly patients (previously independent and without cognitive impairment) with hip fracture caused by a fall.


METHODS
We performed a longitudinal, prospective cohort study of patients who were previously independent for ADL, or had mild dependence, and who showed no cognitive impairment. Consecutive sampling was performed. The variables studied were age, sex, habitual residence, type of hip fracture, mental status (SPMSQ Pfeiffer), and independence in ADL (according to Barthel Index [BI]) prior to the fall and 6 months after the fall.


RESULTS
The study included 207 patients. There was a predominance of female sex (74.4%) and pertrochanteric fractures (45.9%). The mean age was 80.17 years old (SD = 6.95), and 7.7% were institutionalized. Six months after surgery, the mean BI score was 73.37 (SD = 26.76) (versus 90.05 before the fall), 16.8% showed urinary incontinence (versus 5.9%), 59.2% walked without assistance (versus 82.4%) and 24.6% climbed stairs unaided (versus 50.7%). The ability to walk down the street was regained in 64.6% (versus 82.1% before the fall). Recovery of autonomy for ADL was statistically significantly lower in patients unable to walk outdoors, who were institutionalized or who had mild cognitive impairment before the fall.


CONCLUSIONS
Only 33.6% of patients regained prior levels of autonomy 6 months after surgery.
Candel-Parra
Eduardo
E
Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha. España.
Córcoles-Jiménez
Maira Pilar
MP
Del Egido-Fernández
Maria Angeles
MA
Villada-Munera
Ascension
A
Jiménez-Sánchez
Maria Delirio
MD
Moreno-Moreno
Monica
M
Carrión-González
Miriam
M
Denia-Cortés
Angeles
A
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors