Substantial Loss of Skeletal Muscle Mass Occurs After Femoral Fragility Fracture

Femoral fragility fractures in older adults can result in devastating loss of physical function and independence. Skeletal muscle atrophy likely contributes to disability. The purpose of this study was to characterize the change in skeletal muscle mass, investigate the relationship with malnutrition and physical function, and identify risk factors for skeletal muscle loss.

Adults ≥65 years of age who were treated with operative fixation of an isolated femoral fragility fracture were enrolled in this multicenter, prospective observational study. Skeletal muscle mass was assessed within 72 hours of admission using multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis, which was repeated at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. Sarcopenia was defined by sex-specific cutoffs for the appendicular skeletal muscle mass index. The Mini Nutritional Assessment was used to measure nutritional status at the time of injury. Physical function was measured using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function domain. Linear mixed models were used to evaluate changes in skeletal muscle mass and PROMIS Physical Function scores over time and to evaluate factors associated with skeletal muscle mass changes.

Ninety participants (74% female) with a mean age of 77.6 ± 9.0 years were enrolled. At the time of injury, 30 (33%) were sarcopenic and 44 (49%) were at risk for malnutrition or had malnutrition. Older age was associated with lower skeletal muscle mass (age of ≥75 versus <75 years: least squares mean [and standard error], -3.3 ± 1.6 kg; p = 0.042). From the time of injury to 6 weeks, participants lost an average of 2.4 kg (9%) of skeletal muscle mass (95% confidence interval [CI] = ‒3.0 to ‒1.8 kg; p < 0.001). This early loss did not recover by 6 months (1.8 kg persistent loss compared with baseline [95% CI = ‒2.5 to ‒1.1 kg]; p < 0.001). Participants with normal nutritional status lost more skeletal muscle mass from baseline to 6 weeks after injury compared with those with malnutrition (1.3 kg more loss [standard error, 0.6 kg]; p = 0.036). A 1-kg decrease in skeletal muscle mass was associated with an 8-point decrease in the PROMIS Physical Function (model parameter estimate, 0.12 [standard error, 0.04]; p = 0.002).

We found that older adults with femoral fragility fractures lost substantial skeletal muscle mass and physical function. Participants with adequate baseline nutrition actually lost more muscle mass than those who were malnourished, indicating that future investigations of interventions to prevent muscle loss should focus on older adults regardless of nutritional status.

Prognostic Level II . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.