Early Rehabilitation After Hip Fracture

Summary

The aim of this study is to compare a low versus high intensity physiotherapy early rehabilitation program combined with a low versus high dose vitamin D early rehabilitation program in a randomized controlled trial among elderly patients with acute hip fracture in an acute care setting. The primary outcome to be compared between treatment arms is the rate of falls during a 12-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes are injurious falls, number of persons who fell, low-trauma fractures (at the hip, forearm, humerus, pelvis, ankle, spine, femur, tibia), disability, quality of life (Euro-Qol), mortality and health care utilization. Another secondary outcome will be admission to nursing home compared between treatment arms among subjects, who are community-dwelling prior to the index hip fracture. Admission to nursing home is the marker of loss of independence for the individual, but also triggers high cost for the society. The study will provide new early rehabilitation guidelines to allocate health care resources efficiently in the acute care setting. Eventually and most importantly, the study will help improve outcomes in patients with hip fractures.

Timeline

Start

2005-01

Primary completion

—

Completion

2008-12

Publications

• Braendle K, Egli A, Bischoff-Ferrari H, Freystaetter G. Does living alone influence fall risk among Swiss older adults aged 60+? A pooled observational analysis of three RCTs on fall prevention. BMJ Open. 2024 May 20;14(5):e081413. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081413.
• Fischer K, Trombik M, Freystatter G, Egli A, Theiler R, Bischoff-Ferrari HA. Timeline of functional recovery after hip fracture in seniors aged 65 and older: a prospective observational analysis. Osteoporos Int. 2019 Jul;30(7):1371-1381. doi: 10.1007/s00198-019-04944-5. Epub 2019 Apr 2.
• Nardi M, Fischer K, Dawson-Hughes B, Orav EJ, Meyer OW, Meyer U, Beck S, Simmen HP, Pape HC, Egli A, Willett WC, Theiler R, Bischoff-Ferrari HA. Association between Caregiver Role and Short- and Long-Term Functional Recovery after Hip Fracture: A Prospective Study. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2018 Feb;19(2):122-129. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2017.08.009. Epub 2017 Sep 30.
• Schaller F, Sidelnikov E, Theiler R, Egli A, Staehelin HB, Dick W, Dawson-Hughes B, Grob D, Platz A, Can U, Bischoff-Ferrari HA. Mild to moderate cognitive impairment is a major risk factor for mortality and nursing home admission in the first year after hip fracture. Bone. 2012 Sep;51(3):347-52. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2012.06.004. Epub 2012 Jun 12.
• Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Dawson-Hughes B, Platz A, Orav EJ, Stahelin HB, Willett WC, Can U, Egli A, Mueller NJ, Looser S, Bretscher B, Minder E, Vergopoulos A, Theiler R. Effect of high-dosage cholecalciferol and extended physiotherapy on complications after hip fracture: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Intern Med. 2010 May 10;170(9):813-20. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2010.67.

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