Article

Purpose. To investigate the relationship between handgrip strength (HG) and upper
limb functioning of hip fracture operated elderly patients and their functional
outcome 6 months post-op. Methods. Retrospectively, data on 105 post-operative
hip fracture patients was analyzed. Functional level was measured by the
Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and HG by hand dynamometer, 7-10 days, 1, 3
and 6 months post-op. FIM1 up-to FIM4 (FIM1-FIM4) and HG1 up-to HG4 (HG1-HG4)
were determined. Pre-fracture upper limb function was evaluated using the
disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) questionnaire. The
Mini-Mental-State Examination evaluated cognition. Results. FIM1-FIM4 scores
increased during the 6-month follow-up; HG1-HG4 scores remained unchanged. No
differences were found in FIM1-FIM4 and DASH scores between genders. HG1-HG4
scores were significantly higher in men (p = 0.04-0.005). FIM1-FIM4, HG1-HG4 and
DASH scores were higher in the cognitively normal patients (p < 0.001). A fair
correlation was found between all HG and FIM scores (R = 0.36-0.71, p < 0.001),
and between DASH and FIM scores (R = 0.5-0.7, p < 0.001). Log HG1 and FIM4 scores
were highly correlated (R(2) = 0.54, p < 0.001). Regression analysis found that
only, and in the following order were Log HG1, FIM1, DASH and age significant
factors affect FIM4 score (R(2) = 0.69). Conclusions. HG and FIM scores, a week
post-op., combined with upper limb functioning and age, can have a 69% prediction
accuracy for motor functioning 6 months post-fracture. HG measurement, a week
post-hip fracture repair, might be considered in estimating functional motor
outcome, and eventually additional interventions should be employed to increase
muscle strength and, thus, improve functional outcome.

Langue : ANGLAIS