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. 2017 Dec;18(4):423-430.
doi: 10.1007/s10195-017-0468-5. Epub 2017 Aug 22.

Functional and quality of life outcome after non-operatively managed proximal humeral fractures

Ronnart N Kruithof  1 , Henk A Formijne Jonkers  1 , Denise J C van der Ven  1 , Ger D J van Olden  1 , Tim K Timmers  1
Affiliations

Functional and quality of life outcome after non-operatively managed proximal humeral fractures

Ronnart N Kruithof et al. J Orthop Traumatol. 2017 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Fractures of the proximal humerus are common and most often treated non-operatively. However, long-term follow-up studies focusing on functional results and quality of life in patients after this type of fracture are scarce. The primary aim of this study is to report the long-term functional and quality of life outcome in patients with a proximal humeral fracture.

Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients undergoing non-operative treatment for a proximal humeral fracture in a level 2 trauma centre between January 2000 and December 2013 was performed. A database consisting of all relevant demographic, patient and fracture characteristics was created. Subsequently, a questionnaire containing the DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) score, EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D), VAS (visual analogue scale) score, and subjective questions was sent to all patients.

Results: A total of 410 patients (65 male, 345 female) were included for analyses. Average follow-up was 90 ± 48 months. DASH-scores <15 were considered as good. A median DASH-score of 6.67 [0.83-22.50] was found. A significant lower DASH-score was seen in patients under the age of 65 compared to older patients (p < 0.001). In comparison to an age-matched general Dutch population, Health related Quality of Life (HrQoL) on the EQ-us was not significantly worse in our study population (difference 0.02). Strong (negative) correlation was found between DASH-score and VAS-score, and DASH-score and HrQoL, respectively ρ = -0.534 and ρ = -0.787.

Conclusion: Long-term functional and quality of life outcomes are good in most patients after proximal humeral fractures, but negatively correlated to each other.

Level of evidence: Level III.

Keywords: Conservative treatment; DASH; EQ-5D; Fracture; Functional outcome; Proximal humerus; Quality of life.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

No conflict of interest occurred.

Patient consent

All patients gave the informed consent prior to being included into the study.

Research involving human participants

All procedures involving human participants were in accordance with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the research ethics committee.

Funding

No source of funding was received for our study. All authors, their immediate family, and any research foundation with which we are affiliated did not receive any financial payments or other benefits from any commercial entity related to the subject of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study population flow chart
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