Introduction Hip fractures are one of the most severe fractures that elderly patients may suffer while wrist fractures are among the most common. The goal of this study was to determine which clinical and social factors predict a better recovery of functionality, as measured by the Barthel questionnaire, after those fractures.

Methods Patients older than 65 years who attended the emergency room (ER) of 7 acute hospitals with a hip or wrist fracture due to a fortuity fall were recruited. Patients fulfilled the Barthel questionnaire at the time of the fall, as how they were before the fall, and 6 months later, as well as some other questions on sociodemographic parameters. Clinical parameters from the ER and admission to the hospital were also recorded. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis were performed, considering the change on Barthel as dependent variable.

Results Preliminary analysis of our data (recruitment of 343 patients with hip and 412 wrist fractureS) showed an important decline in Barthel scores (hip: 23.2; wrist fractures: 5.4 points) at 6 months after the fracture. Patients who were older, who did not receive social support and not living alone were those with higher losses on hip fracture, after adjusting by baseline scores. In the case of wrist fractures, older patients and those not living alone had higher losses in the Barthel.

Conclusion Providing support through social services as well as the living status of the patient diminished the losses in general function perception due to those fractures.