Disability Assessment in Elderly Orthopedic Patients
Vilai Kuptniratsaikul MD*, Apinya Smathajitt BN**, Porntipaya Danputipong BN**, Pimporn Ratanachoti BN**, Niramol Graisorn BN**, Siriporn Marktuam BN**, Phongsuda Phainuphong BN**
Affiliation : * Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University ** Orthopedic Unit, Out-Patient Department, Siriraj Hospital
Objective : To assess the disability level in elderly patients with orthopedic conditions.
Materials and Methods : All possible patients aged more than 60 years, who attended the Out-patient Clinic of
Orthopedic Department, Siriraj Hospital, between October and December 2005, were recruited. They were
assessed for the disability level by using a Brief Disability Questionnaire (BDQ), Thai version. It is a simple
and practical tool for assessing disability levels. It is an eight-item scale with the total score ranging from 0 to
16. A higher score indicates a greater disability.
Results : Two hundred and thirteen patients participated in the study. The mean age was 69.4 years and 64%
had degenerative joint diseases. The affected parts were the lower extremity and back (56.8% and 26.8%
respectively). The three most common limited activities were vigorous activities, long distance walking, and
stair climbing or walking uphill (55.9%, 51.6%, and 42.7% respectively). The mean BDQ score of the subjects
was 7.9 + 3.8. Patients with lower extremity problems including back problems had the highest BDQ score
(8.2 + 3.7). According to the BDQ, the number of patients with a moderate-to-severe degree of disability was
79%.
Conclusion : The majority of elderly patients with orthopedic problems had moderate-to-severe disability as
assessed by the BDQ. Physicians and other health care personnel should consider the management of the
principal diseases, and the assessment of the disability level to improve the patients’ quality of life, which is the
ultimate goal of the treatment in clinical practice.
Keywords : Disability, Assessment, Elderly, Orthopedic, Function
