Influence of anxiety on efficacy of complex proximal humeral fractures in the elderly / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the influences of anxiety on postoperative efficacy in elderly patients with complex proximal humerus fractures.Methods:A retrospective case control study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 297 elderly patients with complex proximal humerus fractures admitted to 5 tertiary hospitals in Shanghai from January 2017 to December 2018. There were 121 males and 176 females, aged 65-85 years [(74.2±8.5)years]. The fracture types included Neer type III in 176 patients and Neer type IV in 121 patients. Two days after admission, patients were analyzed by self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and anxiety factors questionnaire (participated by Shanghai Mental Health Center) and they were divided into anxiety group (SAS>35) and nonanxiety group (SAS≤35). Anxiety group included 68 patients, among which 7 had conservative treatments. Nonanxiety group contained 229 patients, among which 7 had conservative treatments. Both groups underwent with proximal reduction of humerus fractures accepted the operations. Operative patient in both groups underwent open reduction and plate fixation. The surgery rate and length of hospital stay were compared between groups. After 1 year of follow-up, Constant-Murley score was used to evaluate the effect of shoulder joint and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was taken to observe the wrist joint bone mineral density. Postoperative complications were recorded.Results:All operative patients were followed up for 10-28 months, with an average of 13.6 months. The surgery rate was 89.7% (61/68) in anxiety group and 96.9% (222/229) in nonanxiety group ( P<0.05). The hospital stay was (6.8±3.4)days for non-surgery patients and (10.2±2.8)days for surgery patients in anxiety group and (4.2±1.6)days for non-surgery patients and (7.4±2.2)days for surgery patients in nonanxiety group ( P<0.05). In anxiety group and nonanxiety group, the excellent and good rate of Constant-Murley score was respective 75.4% (46/61) and 88.3% (196/222) and the wrist joint bone mineral density was respective (-3.1±0.5)SD and (-2.9±0.6)SD (both P<0.05). The incidence of complications was 8.2% (5/61) in anxiety group and 4.5% (10/222) in nonanxiety group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Anxiety has a significant negative influence on the surgery rate, length of hospital stay, shoulder joint function, wrist joint bone mineral density. Intervention on anxiety in elderly patients with complex proximal humerus fractures should be valued attention by clinical orthopedic surgeons.