Recovery of Function After Hip Fracture The Role of Social Supports

Abstract

Previous studies have found that social support may reduce mortality after myocardial infarction and reduce overall mortality among the elderly. To determine whether social support also influences the recovery of function among patients who have had hip fractures and to describe other potential predictors of recovery after hip fracture, 111 patients with hip fractures were interviewed and examined before discharge from the hospital. The functional status of surviving patients was assessed again 6 months later. Patients who had a greater number of social supports had more complete recovery of their prefracture level of function (r = .21; P = .04). This association was strongest for patients over 60 years old (r = .31; P = .006); among these patients, this association remained statistically significant after adjustment for other significant (P less than .05) predictors of recovery: arm strength, mental status, and serum albumin. Additional studies should be done to test whether interventions to increase social supports can improve the recovery of function among elderly patients with hip fractures and other illnesses. In the meantime, health professionals should counsel elderly patients about the potential rehabilitative and preventive benefits of social supports.

The four-year functional result after a displaced subcapital hip fracture treated with three different surgical options

“…It is reported that only 43% of patients manage to reach preoperational levels of function 2 months after the operation, while 1 month later, mobility still remains reduced in 20-25% [4,5,10]. Usually, 2 months after the operation none of the patients is in pain, although cases are reported in which, 12-14 months after the operation, 27% of patients still have hip pain [4,10].…”

Change in Muscle Mass and Muscle Strength After a Hip Fracture: Relationship to Mobility Recovery

“…Greater postfracture muscle strength of the legs (2,7) and arms (8) and more physical therapy sessions (9) are associated with better functional recovery after a hip fracture, which suggests an important role of muscle strength. No studies, however, have investigated the prospective change in muscle strength after a hip fracture and the potential association of this change with functional recovery.…”

Epidemiology of Delayed Union of Long Bones

“…Felder-Puig Rosemarie et al had done a study stating that it was necessary for adolescence age group with pathological fractures to deal with problems such as restricted mobility, catching up with school and areas of social wellbeing, their means of emotional support are from older age groups which are often preoccupied with work and daily activities [12].…”