Comparative Study on Quality of Life and Complications after Treatment of Intertrochanteric Fracture of Femur in Elderly Patients by Home Skin Traction and Operative Treatment

บทคัดย่อ

          The prospective cohort study was aimed at comparing quality of life and complications between operative treatment and home skin traction for hip fracture in elderly patients. The subjects in each group included intertrochanteric fracture patients, aged 60 years or more, undergoing home skin traction or operative treatment at Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima hospital from October 2006 to September 2007. The evaluation form on quality of life was modified from SF-36 (2005). The functional ability was also assessed by Barthel index activities of daily living score. Comparison of mean scores of the two groups were made employing independent t-test. The results of the study revealed that 64.1 precent of the patients were female, average age of 81.2 years. Of which 43 cases were treated by home skin traction and 35 were operated. The differences between scores on quality of life of the two groups were significant in all modes (p<0.05). The operative group showed independent functional ability relative to mild dependence in the home traction group or based on Barthel’s index score. Less complications of operative group relative to those of the home traction group were reported.

Key words: hip fracture, home skin traction, quality of life, complication