Pain is a leading component of quality of life in patients with osteoporotic femoral fractures and approaches to its treatment

<p>Chronic pain (CP) is an independent clinical syndrome that determines to the greatest extent dysfunction and lower social standing in a patient.</p><p><strong>Objective:</strong> to assess quality of life (QL) in old patients with osteoporotic femoral fractures.</p><p><strong>Subjects and methods.</strong> QL was assessed in 219 patients from an old age group (mean age 75.4±9.27 years) with osteoporotic proximal femoral fractures (a study group). A control group consisted of 200 examinees (mean age 71.5±10.39 years) without a history of fractures. QL was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire. The results were presented in scores; moreover, a higher score denoted a better QL.</p><p><strong>Results.</strong> In the patients with femoral fractures, the QL indicators were decreased to a greater degree and in the majority of parameters than in the control group. The least values were obtained in the following scales: physical functioning (41.94±31.16 scores) and role functioning caused by physical condition (42.34±27.2 scores). The patients with femoral fractures had significant limitations in all types of physical activity, at the same time they experienced severe pain and felt tired and vitality loss.</p><p>Chronic pain syndrome is shown to have impact on worse QL. The issues of combination therapy are discussed.