Initial functional recovery as a measure for rehabilitation outcome in post-acute hip fractured patients

Anticoagulation drug use and rehabilitation outcomes in post-acute hip fractured patients

PURPOSE

To assess the relationship between anticoagulant use and rehabilitation outcomes in post-acute hip fracture patients.

METHODS

A retrospective study (1/2017 to 5/2019) of 299 hip fractured patients.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and the motor FIM's effectiveness.

RESULTS

Patients treated with anticoagulation drugs exhibited a significant longer latency time from fracture to surgery (U = -4.37, p < 0.001) and from surgery to rehabilitation (U=-2.27, p = 0.023), and a significantly higher rate of cardiovascular diseases (χ2=0.15, p= 0.023) compared with untreated patients. No significant differences between the two patient groups were found regarding the rate of blood transfusions, perioperative complications (infections, reoperation), or functional outcome measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral anticoagulants are not associated with rehabilitation outcomes of hip fracture patients.Implications rehabilitationAnticoagulation drug use is not associated with functional outcome of post-acute hip fracture patients.It is recommended to renew oral anticoagulants for patients on chronic treatment after surgery since no negative outcomes were found during rehabilitation under anticoagulant treatment and in light of the importance of these drugs in preventing thromboembolic complications.

Functional Ability, Psychological Factors, and Rehabilitation Outcomes After Elective Total Hip Replacement

Background. The role of positive psychological factors in acute rehabilitation after total hip replacement (THR) is unclear. Purpose. (a) Examine the trajectory of functional ability among older adults after THR from presurgery to discharge from acute rehabilitation and (b) determine which physical and psychological factors at admission would predict functional ability at discharge and length of stay in rehabilitation. Methods. This prospective cohort study included 30 participants (age M = 76.20 years) from an inpatient geriatric rehabilitation center. They completed the Geriatric Depression Scale and Positive Affect questionnaire. The FIM® Motor domain of Functional Independent Measure (mFIM) was recorded presurgery, at admission, and upon discharge. Findings. Functional ability improved at discharge; however, the presurgery functional ability was not regained. Positive affect explained the length of stay in rehabilitation above and beyond the presurgery mFIM. Implications. Occupational therapists should improve ways to enhance self-care and positive affect in acute rehabilitation.

Vitamin D levels in post-acute hip fractured patients and their association with rehabilitation outcomes

PURPOSE

To report on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in post-acute hip fractured patients, revealed the associations between serum 25(OH)D levels and hip fractured patients' baseline characteristics and rehabilitation outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective study (9/2017-9/2020) of 493 hip fractured patients. 25(OH)D levels were recorded following the patient's baseline characteristics and outcome measures, including the functional independence measure and motor functional independence measure effectiveness. The sample was divided into three groups: deficient (<30 nmol/l), insufficient (30-75 nmol/l) and sufficient (>75 nmol/l) 25(OH)D levels. ANOVA and chi-square test tests compared the groups. Multiple linear analysis assessed the associations between the 25(OH)D and discharge functional independence measure score.

RESULTS

25(OH)D deficiency was found in 20.3% of the patients. The only baseline characteristic significantly associated with serum 25(OH)D levels was dementia. The group with deficient levels of 25(OH)D exhibited a significantly higher rate of low education, low admission albumin levels and a reduced handgrip strength compared to the insufficient/sufficient groups. All functional measure scores were significantly lower in the deficient (25(OH)D) group compared with the insufficient/sufficient patient groups. 25(OH)D levels were found to be significantly associated with the discharge functional independence measure score.

CONCLUSIONS

Routine screening for 25(OH)D levels is mandatory in post-acute hip fracture patients as it may affect rehabilitation outcomes.Implications for Rehabilitation25-hydroxyvitamin D 25(OH)D levels are associated with rehabilitation outcomes in post-acute hip fractured patients.A routine screening for 25(OH)D levels and standardized supplementation protocol during the acute and post-acute rehabilitation setting is recommended as it may improve the quality of care.

The majority of community-dwelling hip fracture patients return to independent living with minor increase in care needs: a prospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Hip fracture patients are fragile, and the majority fail to fully recover to their pre-fracture functional level, resulting in an increase in institutionalization. We aimed to investigate risk factors for being dependent at discharge and for failure to return to independent living 12 months after a hip fracture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 2011 to 2017, all surgically treated hip fracture patients admitted from their own homes were included in this prospective cohort study. Patient characteristics were registered, including age, sex, lifestyle, comorbidities, pre-fracture New Mobility Score (NMS), biochemical measures, fracture type, and surgical method. Dependency was measured at discharge using a cumulated ambulatory score (CAS < 6) and the timed-up-and-go test (TUG > 20 s). At 12 months, patients were interviewed regarding residence, NMS, and care needs. Multivariable logistic regression was used, reporting odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

A total of 2006 patients were included in the study with data regarding their hospital stay and discharge. In all, 1342 patients underwent follow-up at 12 months. The risk factors found to be associated with dependency at discharge were mostly static. Modifiable variables associated with dependency at discharge (CAS < 6) were hypoalbuminemia (OR: 1.94, 95% CI 1.38-2.71), not having been mobilized to standing within 24 h (OR: 1.88, 95% CI 1.12-3.15), and general anesthesia (OR: 1.35, 95% CI 1.07-1.71). Failure to return to independent living at 12 months was found in 10% of the patients, and was primarily associated with patient characteristics and proxy variables for comorbidities, but also with dependency at discharge (CAS < 6).

CONCLUSIONS

Mobilizing patients to standing within 24 h from hip fracture surgery was vital in maximizing short-term functional recovery. Failure to return to independent living was seen in the frailest patients. However, the majority remained in their own home with little increase in care needs.

Psychological Factors Predicting Functional Ability and Participation After Hip Fracture

IMPORTANCE

Positive psychological factors have been related to better outcomes among adults with various health conditions.

OBJECTIVE

To predict functional ability and participation in older adults who had experienced a hip fracture on the basis of data at admission to acute (inpatient) rehabilitation. We measured physical factors, as well as positive and negative psychological factors, at three time points.

DESIGN

Prospective and cross-sectional cohort study. Data collection occurred during admission, at discharge, and 6 mo after rehabilitation.

SETTING

Inpatient geriatric rehabilitation center and follow-up at home.

PARTICIPANTS

Seventy-one older adults (M age = 78.58 yr, SD = 6.09) who had sustained a hip fracture because of a fall and who attended acute rehabilitation; 55 completed follow-up assessments 6 mo after discharge from rehabilitation.

MEASURES

Participants completed the Adult Hope Scale, Life Orientation Test, Positive Affect Questionnaire, Geriatric Depression Scale (at admission only), hand-grip strength measures, Numeric Pain Rating Scale, and FIM® Motor domain (mFIM) before and after acute rehabilitation and after 6 mo. The Activity Card Sort (ACS) was administered only at follow-up. Outcome measures were the mFIM and ACS.

RESULTS

At 6-mo follow-up, functional ability was correlated more with optimism than with age, gender, or hand-grip strength measured at admission. Participation was predicted by age, the hope-agency component, and pain in walking at admission; however, the hope-agency component was only marginally significant. At discharge, functional ability was strongly predicted by age, hand-grip strength, and mFIM scores at admission.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Optimism and hope played a role in explaining rehabilitation outcomes at 6-mo follow-up. Occupational therapy evaluation should address positive psychological factors, and intervention should aim to strengthen these factors as powerful aids in older adults' recovery from hip fractures. What This Article Adds: This study reflects the philosophy of occupational therapy, which places great emphasis on the connection between clients' mind-body-spirit and their participation in daily life occupations.

Does the type of hip fracture affect functional recovery in elderly patients undergoing inpatient rehabilitation?

BACKGROUND

Hip fractures should not be considered as a single, homogeneous condition. Various determinants of functional recovery of patients with hip fracture have been proposed, such as age or type of fracture. The aim of this study was to determine if patients with an intertrochanteric fracture (ITF) had lower functional recovery characteristics with respect to those with a femoral neck fracture (FNF).

METHODS

A retrospective study was carried out on 531 elderly patients with hip fracture, surgically treated, admitted to a rehabilitation institute between December 1, 2014, and December 31, 2017. Patients underwent an individualized rehabilitation program for improving their physical function. The outcome measures of this study were the length of stay (LOS) in the rehabilitation institute, the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) gain, i.e. the difference in FIM score between discharge and admission, and the FIM efficiency, which represents the daily gain. Patients were also stratified by age categories and by different levels of functional independence, as evaluated with the FIM total score at baseline.

RESULTS

Age (p<0.05), LOS (p<0.005) and rehabilitation outcomes (FIM score and efficiency; p<0.05) differed significantly between patients with FNF and ITF. In particular, patients with ITF were older and more dependent at baseline. Moreover, they showed a lower FIM efficiency with respect to patients with FNF (p<0.05), which obtained a similar improvement in FIM total score of about 26 points but were discharged on average 3 days before. With aging, FIM efficiency decreased, while LOS increased. Patients highly dependent at baseline (FIM total score <40) had the lowest FIM gain and efficiency and the longest LOS respect to the more independent patients. Moreover, in older (85+ years) and in higher dependent patients the differences in the outcome measures between ITF and FNF were reduced.

CONCLUSIONS

The type of hip fracture could affect the LOS and FIM efficiency of younger and more independent patients with hip fracture during inpatient rehabilitation. In particular, patients with ITF require a longer rehabilitation period to achieve a similar functional gain as those with FNF.

Are extracapsular and intracapsular hip-fracture patients two distinct rehabilitation subpopulations?

PURPOSE

To assess whether intracapsular and extracapsular hip fracture patients in a post-acute rehabilitation setting differ in their background characteristics and whether fracture type affects rehabilitation outcome.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Functional Independence Measure (FIM), motor FIM (mFIM), mFIM effectiveness, length of stay (LOS), and discharge destination. Various tests assessed associations (the Mann-Whitney U, the chi-square, logistic regression), population differences (t-test), and independent predictors of discharge FIM score (multiple linear regression model).

RESULTS

Six hundred and eighty-seven patients completed the rehabilitation program. The intracapsular hip fracture patient group was characterized by significantly higher percentages of males, higher education levels, and living with a caregiver compared with the extracapsular hip fracture patient group. Intracapsular hip fracture patients were younger, had longer latency time from fracture to surgery, exhibited higher functional levels on admission and upon discharge, higher cognitive function and shorter rehabilitation time than extracapsular hip fracture patients. Both study groups possessed similar comorbidities, rehabilitation achievements, and discharge destination. Regression analyses showed that the fracture type was not associated with discharge FIM score, nor with the probability of achieving a favorable functional gain.

CONCLUSIONS

Post-acute extracapsular and intracapsular hip fracture patients are demographically and clinically two distinct subpopulations. Nevertheless, given additional time, extracapsular hip fracture patients will attain similar functional achievements as intracapsular hip fracture patients.Implications for rehabilitationPost-acute extracapsular and intracapsular hip fracture patients are demographically and clinically two distinct subpopulations.Given additional time, extracapsular hip fracture patients can attain similar functional achievements as intracapsular hip fracture patients.