
Influence of Bone Strength Measured by DensiProbe on Bone Related Fixation Failure
Femoral FracturesHip Fractures2 moreHip fractures mostly occur in elderly people with low bone strength. Bone strength is determined by bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover, microarchitectural and geometrical properties of the bone. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the standard technique to measure BMD. However, BMD just provides information regarding the quantity of mineral in bone, which is only one component of bone strength. To date there is no reliable method to assess bone strength in vivo. Therefore, a method to assess bone strength beyond BMD would provide additional information regarding the patients' risk of bone related fixation failure after fracture fixation. DensiProbe is a new diagnostic device that was developed for intra-operative assessment of mechanical stability of the bone in the proximal femur. It consists of a drill bit like tool and an electronic system to measure the peak torque to break-away of trabecular bone in the femoral head of patients undergoing DHS surgical treatment. In a cadaver study comparing bone mineral density measured by quantitative computed tomography with bone strength measured by DensiProbe a high correlation between these two parameters could be shown. In a clinical pilot study a significant correlation between DensiProbe measurements and BMD measured by DXA at the femoral neck in patients with hip fractures could be shown. However, no perfect correlation was expected because DensiProbe measures bone strength, which is only partly caused by BMD. Bone related fixation failure, such as secondary loss of reduction, is influenced by bone strength, bone mineral density, fracture type, fracture reduction and primary positioning of the implant. The predictive value of DensiProbe measurements for secondary loss of reduction needs to be investigated. If DensiProbe turned out to be an effective screening tool for patients with low bone strength that are on higher risk of the aforementioned complications these patients may in future benefit from alternative treatment methods (e.g. augmentation techniques) in order to reduce bone related fixation failure. The primary aim of the present study is to investigate if bone strength measured by DensiProbeTM Hip (DensiProbe) is an independent factor to predict secondary loss of reduction (screw migration of 5 mm or more and / or telescoping of 10 mm or more) in patients with hip fractures after fracture fixation with DHS.

Effect of Leg Strengthening Exercise After Hip Fracture
Hip FracturesThe purpose of this trial was to examine the effectiveness of a short-term leg strengthening exercise program compared to attention control on improving leg strength, walking speed and endurance, physical performance, and physical function one year after hip fracture.

Improving Functional Recovery After Hip Fracture
Unilateral Hip FractureThis project will assess the effectiveness of a novel approach involving patient education and strength training to improve functional recovery after a hip fracture. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two study groups. One group (control group) will receive standard medical care. The other group will participate in a program of patient education and strength training, including an at-home walking program.

Protein and Carbohydrate Loading in Elderly With Hip Fractures
Hip FracturesPre-operative carbohydrate and protein loading among older people with hip fractures could potentially influence patient outcomes. This mode of intervention has seen good outcomes in a general surgical setting as part of its enhanced recovery pathway. However, its effectiveness and ease of implementation in a hip fracture setting is uncertain. This study aims to study the feasibility of protein and carbohydrate loading as part of hip fracture management compared to usual care.

The Effects of a Home-based Occupational Therapy Tele-rehabilitation for Outpatients After Hip Fracture...
TelerehabilitationThe investigators will investigate the effects of a home-based occupational therapy telerehabilitation (TR) via smartphones in enhancing functional and motor performances, and fall efficacy, for outpatients receiving day hospital rehabilitation after hip fracture surgery. This is a feasibility randomized controlled trial with two groups - experimental and comparison groups, involving older adults after hip fracture surgery within 12 weeks attending the Geriatric Day Hospital. Patients will be assessed at baseline, immediately post 3-weeks intervention, and follow-up after 3-weeks for motor performances, daily activities functioning and fall efficacy. The experimental group will receive home program using the use of Caspar Health e-system and a mobile app in smartphones, while the comparison group will receive paper-and-pencil instructions for the home program on weekly basis, for 3 weeks.

Surgical Treatment of Hip Fractures Under Peripheral Regional Anesthesia
Hip FracturesThe study investigates whether treatment of proximal femoral fractures is possible using a peripheral regional anesthesia technique.

Lumbar Plexus Block Upon the Incidence of Ischemic Cardiovascular Events in Elderly Patients With...
Hip FracturesPerioperative Myocardial IschemiaThe purpose of this study is evaluate the efficacy of perioperative continuous lumbar plexus block in reducing the risk of cardiac ischemic events of elderly patients undergoing surgery for hip fractures, expressed as a reduction of ischemic events per subject.

Back to the Future: Bridging the Hospital to Home Continuum After Hip Fracture
Hip FractureThe purpose of this study is to determine whether is is feasible and acceptable to deliver a telephone based coaching intervention compared with education alone in community dwelling older adults (age 60 and older) after a fall related hip fracture.

Eva-Hip, Evaluation of Rehabilitation After Hip-fracture
Hip FractureTo evaluate the effect on gait and activity of a home based physiotherapy intervention 4-6 months after the fracture. The investigators hypothesis is that exercises performed after the initial rehabilitation, which focuses on specific components of gait control will improve gait and increase level of activity.

Ultrasound-guided Femoral Nerve Blocks in Elderly Patients With Hip Fractures
Femoral Neck FracturesHip FracturesThe purpose of this study is to determine if ultrasound guided femoral nerve blocks (localized anesthesia in the upper thigh) provide effective pain relief in adult patients with hip fractures in the emergency department and to determine if femoral nerve blocks can then be used to reduce the use of injected analgesia (anesthesia), therefore also causing fewer adverse effects associated with injected analgesia (such as bruising at the site of injection). 100 patients with hip fractures will be enrolled in the study. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive a femoral nerve block (FNB) plus injected analgesia or standard care (SC), which is injected analgesia alone. Using guidance from an ultrasound machine, the FNB group will have 20ml of 0.5% bupivacaine (a local anesthetic of long duration) injected into the front of the thigh, at the site of pain. Patients randomized to the SC group will receive an injection of saline (saltwater) so that no neither the patient or the treating physician knows to which group the patient was randomized. All blocks will be performed in the emergency department by an emergency physician trained in the use of ultrasound and ultrasound guided nerve blocks. Subjects will be asked to rate their pain on a numeric pain scale both before and after intervention (30 min, 60 min, 12 hrs and 24 hrs after injection, as long as the patient is in the ER still). Additional data to be collected includes demographics, vital signs, and course of treatment resulting from the ED visit. Hypothesis: US-guided femoral nerve blocks can provide effective pain control and possibly decrease or eliminate the need for narcotics.