Factors associated with functional rehabilitation outcomes of non-operative treatment for hip fractures: a retrospective study.
Keisuke Nakamura, Akiho Nakajo, Yuya Nagasawa and 7 others
PMID 31164784WHAT IT FOUND
Among 57 older adults with hip fractures treated without surgery, higher albumin and better cognitive scores were linked to greater function at discharge.
Age and timing of sitting or transfers were not.
Key findings
01Only 15 of 57 non-operatively treated patients were able to walk at discharge.
02Patients who could walk at discharge had higher serum albumin and higher FIM motor and cognitive sub-scores than those who could not.
03After accounting for age, serum albumin and cognitive scores were associated with motor function, while age itself was not.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study was retrospective, so it can show association but not cause and effect. It included only 57 patients from one hospital, so the results may not apply to other settings. Patients were grouped by whether they could walk at discharge, not randomly assigned to treatments. Muscle strength was not measured, so the reason for the albumin finding is unclear. Nutrition status was assessed only by serum albumin, not by a broader nutrition measure. No written informed consent was required because of the retrospective design.
Declared interests
The authors reported no funding or conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that raising serum albumin or improving cognition will restore walking. The study was retrospective and only compared patients by discharge walking status; it did not measure muscle strength or test any treatment.