Ambulatory Outcome after Hip Fractures in Patients with Cerebrovascular Accident

Kim, Joon Sung; Chang, Young A

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purposes of this study were (1) to determine the effectiveness of intensive rehabilitation on ambulatory recovery in patients after hip fracture with previous cerebrovascular accident; (2) to define the difference in the ambulatory outcome of the hip fracture patients according to their previous history of stroke. METHOD: One hundred and seventy-three cases with hip fracture were studied. All patients were divided into two groups: Group A with and Group B without a history of stroke prior to the fracture. The following information was obtained in each patients: age, sex, type and side of fracture, side of hemiplegia, duration of hospitalization, concurrent disease. Ambulatory status was divided as satisfactory (walking with quad-cane or walking frame or mono-cane) or nonsatisfactory (confined to wheelchair or to a bed) accordong to their recovery after rehabilitation.
RESULTS
Twenty three percent of patients have the history of stroke with hip fracture on hemiplegic side and 51.4% of them regained their prefracture level of ambulation. No significant difference was found in the incidence of concurrent disease, length of hospital stay, and functional recovery between hip fracture patients with and without a history of stroke.
CONCLUSION
We conclude that rehabilitation of the stroke patient with hip fracture is worthwhile and comprehensive rehabilitation should be done in hip fracture patients with or without hemiplegia.