Long-Term Functional Outcomes and Quality of Life in Young Adults With Internal Fixation of Femoral Shaft Fracture: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose: Although internal fixation surgery of femoral shaft fracture (FSF) has high rates of union, it affects the patients’ functionality and quality of life due to additional health conditions depending on the traumatic nature of these injuries. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the long-term functional outcomes and quality of life of young adults who underwent internal fixation of isolated FSF to compare with healthy peers.
 Methods: The Harris Hip Score (HHS) and Stair Climb Test (SCT) were used to evaluate the functionality of the participants. The EuroQol 5-Dimension Questionnaire (EQ-5D) was used to assess the quality of life. 
 Results: Twenty young adult volunteers with internal fixation surgery aged 18-55 years are included in the FSF group (mean age: 39.55±11.92 years; duration after surgery: 28±7.2 months) and 20 healthy peers (mean age: 42.75±8.83 years) as the control group. The HHS and EQ-5D scores were lower (p