Purpose of study: To examine change in balance-related fall risk and daily functional abilities in the first 2 postoperative weeks and up to 6 weeks after gynecologic surgery. Materials and methods: Prospective cohort study in gynecologic surgery patients age 65 and older. Balance confidence (Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale) and functional status (basic and instrumental activities of daily living) were recorded pre-and post-operatively daily for 1 week and twice the second week. Physical performance balance and functional mobility were measured pre-and 1 week post-operatively using the Tinetti Fall Risk Scale, Timed Up and Go, and 6-Minute Walk test. Measures were repeated 6 weeks after surgery. Nonparametric tests for paired data were used comparing scores baseline to post-operative (POD) 7 and to POD 42. Results: Median age was 72 years (range 65-88). Fall risk was elevated during the first 2 post-operative weeks, greatest on the median discharge day, POD 2 (p < 0.01). Balance performance and functional mobility at 1 week were significantly lower than baseline (p < 0.01). Functional abilities declined, including new dependence in medication management at home in 22% of these independent and cognitively intact women. Conclusions: After gynecologic surgery, older women's fall risk is highest on POD 2 and remains elevated from baseline for 2 weeks. Functional limitations in the early home recovery period include the anticipated (bathing, cooking, etc.) and some unanticipated (medication management) ones. This information may help with postoperative discharge planning.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/626123 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Miller, Karen L., Richter, Holly E., Graybill, Charles S., Neumayer, Leigh A. |
| Contributors | Univ Arizona, Dept Surg |
| Publisher | ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Article |
| Rights | © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY-NC-ND/4.0/). |
| Relation | http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0167494317302480 |
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