Review article

Fractures of the proximal humerus – patient rehabilitation and functional outcome follow-up

Tatjana NIKOLIĆ ; Klinička jedinica za rehabilitaciju traumatoloških bolesnika, Klinika za reumatologiju, fizikalnu medicinu i rehabilitaciju KBC Sestre milosrdnice, Zagreb
Dubravka SAJKOVIĆ ; Klinička jedinica za rehabilitaciju traumatoloških bolesnika, Klinika za reumatologiju, fizikalnu medicinu i rehabilitaciju KBC Sestre milosrdnice, Zagreb
Gordana TAJSIĆ ; Klinička jedinica za rehabilitaciju traumatoloških bolesnika, Klinika za reumatologiju, fizikalnu medicinu i rehabilitaciju KBC Sestre milosrdnice, Zagreb
Ana ŠEČIĆ ; Odjel za rehabilitaciju djece, Klinika za reumatologiju, fizikalnu medicinu i rehabilitaciju KBC Sestre milosrdnice, Zagreb

Abstract

Proximal humeral fractures occur most frequently in the elderly and their incidence
is increasing. A decision about conservative or operative treatment approach
for this type of fracture depends on a decision of a surgeon and is a challenge
because of controversial results from the available literature. All agree that early
rehabilitation after this type of fractures is necessary. Although recovery of range
of motion and strength gives useful information about the patient’s progress
during rehabilitation, assessment of disability (self –reported measure of functional
status) gives additional information and may be more sensitive to clinical change.
Therefore many different specific questionnaires have been developed. Due to the
large number of these patients in our clinical practice, we wanted to evaluate the
functional outcome, disability and level of residual pain at the end of the outpatient
rehabilitation and after 1.5 year. In the period of 3 months we included 60 patients,
among them 26 patients were treated conservatively and 34 surgically. We assessed
disability using the Quick DASH questionnaire and level of pain using the visual
analogue scale of pain (VAS). In both groups of patients the results of the follow-up
recorded a statistically significant difference, in the form of less disability and lower
level of pain between the results of the initial and final testing.

Keywords

proximal humerus fracture; rehabilitation; functional outcome; disability

Hrčak ID:

163438

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/163438

Publication date:

3.4.2016.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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