A functional recovery score for elderly hip fracture patients: I. Development

Objective: To develop a Functional Recovery Score for ambulatory elderly hi p fracture patients related to independent functioning to assess restoratio n of function to prefracture status. Study Design/Methods: The phases of this effort consisted of: (a) identific ation of five relevant components represented by sixteen specific functiona l capacities; (b) assessment of the importance independent community-dwelli ng elderly gave to the sixteen functional capacities: (c) pilot testing of a sixteen-item preliminary questionnaire in recovering elderly hip fracture patients; and (d) modification of the questionnaire to an eleven-item scor e. Results: The resulting eleven-item Functional Recovery Score is comprised o f three main components: basic activities of daily living (BADL) assessed b y four items, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) assessed by si x items, and mobility assessed by one item. Basic activities of daily livin g comprise 44 percent of the score; instrumental activities of daily living comprise 23 percent, and mobility comprises 33 percent. Complete independe nce in basic and instrumental activities of daily living and mobility resul ts in a score of 100 percent.