ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Ortopedica e Traumatologica 2001 August-October;52(4-5):201-10

Copyright © 2001 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

Quality of life in elderly patients with artificial hip replacement

Lisai A., Ghione M., Massè A.

Background. This study aimed to monitor quality of life in elderly patients undergoing hip replacement surgery using a Deon type endoprosthesis consequent to medial fracture of the femoral neck and to evaluate the efficacy of the Short Form 36 Questionnaire as a means of studying this elderly population.
Methods. We carried out a retrospective analysis of 94 patients operated at the 1st University Clinic of CTO Hospital in Turin between 1/1/1996 and 30/3/2000 (mean follow-up 23 months). Quality of life was evaluated using the Short Form 36 questionnaire (SF-36); our results were compared to data for the Italian population of the same age group and possible correlations between quality of life, age and pre- and postoperative periods were analysed.
Results. The mean scores for the 5 scales of the SF-36 for our sample were comparable to the corresponding Italian data. On the contrary, a significant difference was found for the GH (perception of the state of general health), SF (social activity) and RE scales (restrictions on role due to emotive state). The states of mental but not physical health of patients was negatively influenced by increasing age and the duration of perioperative periods.
Conclusions. Mortality, dementia and deafness make the use of SF-36 debatable in an elderly population. However, this study shows a similar level of quality of life to that in the Italian group, and in some respects it is better. In order to limit the possible psychic involution of elderly patients, it is important to restrict pre- and postoperative periods to the real orthopedic requirements.