OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify variables that could predict the quality of gait in patients with transtrochanteric femoral fractures after treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hospitalized patients diagnosed with transtrochanteric femoral fractures were selected between September/2005 and August/2006 and followed-up for 6 months after the trauma date. An observational prospective study was conducted to assess the quality of gait 3 and 6 months after fracture in 31 patients (13 males and 18 females). The mean age was 76±2,7. RESULTS: Seven patients (22,6%) passed away during the follow-up period. The patients with associated fractures or with four or more co-morbidities showed a worse quality of gait after 6 months. Patients without orthopaedic complications or who got partial weight load prior to 30 days showed a better performance. CONCLUSION: The quantification of predictive gait indexes allows us to propose new treatment approaches consistently to the different realities showed by each group of patients.
Hip fractures; Gait; Postoperative complications
