Functional impairment among elderly women with osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Back pain is a significant cause of functional impairment in elderly women with vertebral fractures. To determine the degree of functional impairment due to painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures, investigators compared 75 white women with a mean age of 77 (+/- 7.2) years who had a mean number of 2.8 (+/- 0.87) vertebral fractures with 83 white women with a mean age of 74 (+/- 6.5) years who had no vertebral fractures. These patients were seen within a 2-year period. The Katz Activities of Daily Living scale was used to assess the patients' functional status. All patients underwent a comprehensive evaluation that included a detailed history and a physical examination. Bone density was evaluated in most of the patients and the evaluation revealed osteoporosis in all of the patients with vertebral fractures. The women with vertebral fractures were found to be more significantly dependent in the following activities of daily living: bathing, toileting, dressing, transfer, and continence. These findings have important nursing implications for rehabilitation of the elderly with this condition.