Inpatient multidisciplinary rehabilitation after hip fracture for residents of nursing homes: a randomised trial.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the effectiveness of interdisciplinary rehabilitation for women with hip fracture who were residents of nursing homes.

DESIGN:

Randomised controlled trial.

SUBJECTS:

Eleven cognitively impaired women with hip fracture who were previously ambulant.

METHODS:

Participants were randomly allocated to usual care (discharge back to the nursing home soon after surgery to the hip fracture) or an inpatient interdisciplinary rehabilitation program.

RESULTS:

Participants were severely cognitively impaired and the majority used a walking aid prior to fracturing their hip. There was one early death, and at final follow up (4 months after hip fracture) median (range) Barthel Index was 28 (0-82) for control group and 68 (0-88) for the intervention group.

CONCLUSION:

No definite conclusion can be drawn about the effectiveness of the intervention because of its premature termination. However, the study established that it is feasible to provide an interdisciplinary rehabilitation for older people with hip fracture and severe disablement.