Revista Fisio&terapia · Sep 30, 2026
Influence of sarcopenia on postoperative outcomes in older adults undergoing surgical treatment for hip fracture: a narrative review
By Bertoli NV, Loureiro MC, Neto PC et al.
Introduction: Sarcopenia is a condition associated with reduced muscle strength and mass and may influence recovery in older adults after hip fractures. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the influence of sarcopenia on postoperative outcomes in older adults undergoing surgical treatment for hip fractures. Methodology: A narrative literature review was conducted through searches in the PubMed database and manual searches, considering selected studies addressing sarcopenia, hip fractures, and postoperative outcomes. Results: The studies analyzed demonstrated an association between sarcopenia and poorer clinical outcomes. In a meta-analysis of 30 studies, sarcopenia was associated with a higher risk of unfavorable prognosis in patients with fractures (OR=1.51; 95% CI: 1.24–1.85) and, in the hip fracture subgroup, with a higher risk of unfavorable prognosis (OR=1.43; 95% CI: 1.17–1.76), poorer functional recovery (OR=2.13; 95% CI: 1.41–3.21), and refracture (OR=1.54; 95% CI: 1.21–1.96). Studies involving patients undergoing surgical treatment also identified associations with higher mortality, delirium, postoperative complications, and poorer functional recovery. Interventions combining nutritional supplementation and physical exercise showed favorable results for recovery. Conclusion: It is concluded that sarcopenia is associated with poorer outcomes following surgical treatment of hip fractures, reinforcing the importance of its assessment and individualized management during the perioperative period.