Functional Outcomes of Early Rehabilitation Following Proximal Femur Fracture Fixation in Elderly Patients: A Prospective Comparative Study.

Authors

  • Dr. Nilesh Kumar Agrawal Senior Resident, Department of Orthopaedics, IGIMS, Patna, Bihar, India.
  • Dr. Reetesh Roshan Senior Resident, Department of Orthopaedics, IGIMS, Patna, Bihar, India.
  • Dr. Raman Kumar Senior Resident, Department of Orthopaedics, IGIMS, Patna, Bihar, India.
  • Dr. Santosh Kumar Professor and HOD, Department of Orthopaedics, IGIMS, Patna, Bihar, India.
  • Dr. Farhan Ahmed Khan Junior Resident, Department of Orthopaedics, IGIMS, Patna, Bihar, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i3.2617

Keywords:

proximal femur fracture, elderly, early rehabilitation, functional outcome, Harris Hip Score

Abstract

Background:
Proximal femur fractures in elderly patients are associated with impaired mobility, poor functional outcomes, and prolonged hospitalization. Early postoperative rehabilitation may enhance recovery and improve clinical outcomes.

 Objective:
To compare functional outcomes, mobility, and hospital stay between early and conventional rehabilitation following proximal femur fracture fixation in elderly patients.

 Methods:
This prospective comparative study included 60 elderly patients (≥60 years) undergoing surgical fixation of proximal femur fractures at IGIMS, Patna. Patients were allocated to early rehabilitation (within 48 hours; n=30) or conventional rehabilitation (postoperative day 5; n=30). Functional outcome was assessed using the Harris Hip Score (HHS), mobility by the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and duration of hospital stay. Follow-up was conducted up to 12 months.

 Results:
The early rehabilitation group demonstrated significantly better HHS scores (80.27±8.0 vs. 71.35±9.1), shorter TUG times (14.96±3.0 vs. 18.32±4.1 seconds), and reduced hospital stay (6.85±1.5 vs. 9.67±2.0 days) compared with the conventional rehabilitation group (all p<0.001).

 Conclusion:
Early rehabilitation following proximal femur fracture fixation significantly improves functional recovery, mobility, and reduces hospital stay in elderly patients.

 Recommendation:
Early postoperative rehabilitation should be incorporated into standard care protocols for elderly patients undergoing proximal femur fracture fixation.

Author Biographies

Dr. Nilesh Kumar Agrawal, Senior Resident, Department of Orthopaedics, IGIMS, Patna, Bihar, India.

 is a Senior Resident in the Department of Orthopaedics at Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), Patna, Bihar, India. His research interests include trauma surgery, fracture management, and postoperative rehabilitation.

Dr. Reetesh Roshan, Senior Resident, Department of Orthopaedics, IGIMS, Patna, Bihar, India.

is a Senior Resident in the Department of Orthopaedics at IGIMS, Patna, Bihar, India. His academic interests include orthopedic trauma, geriatric orthopedics, and functional outcome assessment.

Dr. Raman Kumar, Senior Resident, Department of Orthopaedics, IGIMS, Patna, Bihar, India.

is a Senior Resident in the Department of Orthopaedics at IGIMS, Patna, Bihar, India. His areas of interest include orthopedic trauma, rehabilitation, and clinical research in musculoskeletal disorders.

Dr. Santosh Kumar , Professor and HOD, Department of Orthopaedics, IGIMS, Patna, Bihar, India.

is Professor and Head of the Department of Orthopaedics at IGIMS, Patna, Bihar, India. His expertise includes orthopedic trauma, joint reconstruction, and orthopedic education.

Dr. Farhan Ahmed Khan, Junior Resident, Department of Orthopaedics, IGIMS, Patna, Bihar, India

is a Junior Resident in the Department of Orthopaedics at IGIMS, Patna, Bihar, India. His interests include orthopedic trauma care, fracture rehabilitation, and clinical research.

 

References

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Published

2026-03-30

How to Cite

Agrawal, N. K. ., Roshan, R. ., Kumar, R. ., Kumar, S. ., & Khan, F. A. . (2026). Functional Outcomes of Early Rehabilitation Following Proximal Femur Fracture Fixation in Elderly Patients: A Prospective Comparative Study. Student’s Journal of Health Research Africa, 7(3), 7. https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i3.2617

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 3 (2026): March 2026 Issue

Section

Section of Orthopedics

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Nilesh Kumar Agrawal, Dr. Reetesh Roshan, Dr. Raman Kumar, Dr. Santosh Kumar , Dr. Farhan Ahmed Khan

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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