Abstract :
Background: Proximal femoral fractures are common orthopaedic injuries among older adults, associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and functional decline. Surgical intervention remains the mainstay of treatment, aiming to restore mobility and independence.Aim: To evaluate the functional outcomes following surgical management of extracapsular proximal femoral fractures using Martin Parker’s Universal Functional Score (UFS) over a 5-year follow-up period.Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 176 patients with intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures treated surgically between 2018 and 2023. Functional outcomes were assessed using UFS at 6 months, 1 year, and 5 years postoperatively. Data on complications, mortality, and return to pre-fracture activity were also collected.Results: Mean UFS improved from 42.3 ± 8.7 at 6 months to 78.6 ± 10.1 at 1 year and 81.2 ± 9.5 at 5 years (p < 0.001). At 5 years, 68.7% of patients regained pre-fracture mobility, while mortality was 18.2%. Common complications included implant failure (4.5%), deep infection (2.8%), and non-union (3.4%).Conclusion: Surgical fixation of proximal femoral fractures yields good long-term functional outcomes when combined with early mobilisation and multidisciplinary rehabilitation. These findings reinforce the importance of timely surgery and comprehensive post-operative care to optimise recovery.
Keyword :
Proximal femoral fracture, Intertrochanteric fracture, Subtrochanteric fracture, Functional outcomes, Martin Parker’s Universal Functional Score