Methods: As the study subjects, eighteen non-dementia elderly patients (mean age of 77.6 years old) with bone fractures by falls were hospitalized at the convalescent rehabilitation hospital were selected. From the intraoral examination upon admission, we categorized mentioned subjects as assigning nine patients to a group with need of prosthodontic treatment (Prosthetic Treated group; PT) and nine patients to a group with need of prosthodontics but no treatment due to their rejection (Non Prosthetic Treated group; Non-PT). Four items refer to care prevention manual were examined by means of nine parameters (below). ①Motor function; total score, "Walking" and "Stairs" of motor items in accordance with Functional Independence Measure (FIM). ②Nutrition; serum albumin level and BMI. ③Oral function; Oral Health Impact Profile-Japanese version (OHIP-J), the number of occlusal-supporting area and gum chewing ability (masticatory performance evaluation gum XYLITOL®, LOTTE Co. Ltd. Saitama, Japan). ④Communication and social cognition related to social withdrawal, dementia, and depression; total score of FIM cognitive items. The scores from nine parameters of PT and Non-PT group at the admission and discharge were compared. The obtained results were analyzed by Wilcoxon test at a significance (P<0.05).
Results: In total score of FIM motor items, significant difference was observed in both groups. The item of "Walking" and "Stairs" of FIM motor items, OHIP-J, the number of occlusal-supporting area and gum chewing ability and total score of FIM cognitive items, significant differences were observed only in PT.
Conclusions: It was indicated that prosthodontic treatment during the convalescent phase for care prevention of elderly patients with bone fractures resulting from falls was beneficial.