Effect of home-based rehabilitation exercise program for elderly patients with femoral neck fracture after bipolar hemiarthroplasty

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a home-based rehabilitation program by examining recovery time, the risk of falling, improvement in mobility, and improvement in quality of life. Methods: This prospective cohort study included elderly patients who sustained a primary femoral neck fracture that required cement less bipolar hemiarthroplasty using posterior approach at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. Time to return to pre-injury status was the primary outcome. Patient quality of life was evaluated using Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and EQ5D-5L at three and six months after surgery. Results: Forty-one patients were included in the final analysis. All patients could return to pre-injury ambulatory status within six months. The mean SPPB score at six months was significantly higher than the mean score at three months after surgery. The results of EQ5D-5L showed that quality of life improved from three to six months after surgery. No postoperative complications were observed, including infections, secondary fractures, or hip dislocations. Conclusion: The home-based rehabilitation program evaluated in this study was found to be safe and effective for improving recovery, physical performance, and quality of life. All participating patients could return to their pre-injury ambulatory status within six months.

Keywords

• Femoral neck fracture
• bipolar hemiarthroplasty
• home-based rehabilitation exercise program
• short physical performance battery (SPPB)
• EQ5D-5L