Quality of life after a subtrochanteric fracture: a prospective cohort study on 87 elderly patients.
BACKGROUND
The subtrochanteric fracture constitutes approximately 5-10% of all hip fractures. This particular fracture type, owing to its configuration and instability, poses significant challenges to the fixation method, especially in elderly patients with varying degrees of osteoporosis. There has been a gradual change in the operative techniques used to stabilise these fractures leading to the current widespread use of cephalomedullary nails. In contrast to the field of research on patients with the more common femoral neck and trochanteric fractures, few studies have evaluated the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with subtrochanteric fractures.


OBJECTIVE
To report the long-term outcome for patients with subtrochanteric fractures treated with a cephalomedullary nail with special regard to the HRQoL.


METHODS
Four university hospitals.


METHODS
A prospective cohort study with a 2-year follow-up.


METHODS
Eighty-seven consecutive elderly patients with a subtrochanteric fracture treated with a cephalomedullary nail. Main outcome measurements were mortality rate, reoperation rate, pain at the hip, walking ability, activities of daily living (ADL) function and HRQoL assessed with the EQ-5D (EQ-5D(index) score).


RESULTS
The EQ-5D(index) score decreased from 0.73 before fracture to 0.53 at 4 and 12 months and to 0.52 at 24 months. At the final follow-up 80% of the patients reported no or only limited pain at the hip, 46% had regained their prefracture walking ability, 48% their prefracture level of ADL function and 71% had living conditions similar to those before the fracture. The reoperation rate was 8%. The mortality rate was 8% at 4 months, 14% at 12 months and 25% at 24 months.


CONCLUSIONS
A subtrochanteric fracture in elderly patients had a substantial negative effect on both their short and long-term HRQoL. Although pain at the hip was not a major problem there was an obvious deterioration in walking ability and ADL function. However, the rate of revision surgery was comparatively low which confirms that the cephalomedullary nail constitutes a safe treatment for elderly patients with a subtrochanteric fracture. The data on HRQoL obtained in this study can be used in future healthcare evaluations and to calculate quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs).
Ekström
Wilhelmina
W
Karolinska Institutet, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Section of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Sweden. wilhelmina.ekstrom@karolinska.se
Németh
Gunnar
G
Samnegård
Eva
E
Dalen
Nils
N
Tidermark
Jan
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001858:Bone Nails; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000379:methods / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology