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Use of a unipedal standing test to assess the ambulation reacquisition time during the early postoperative stage after hip fracture in elderly Japanese: prospective study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Orthopaedic Science

Abstract

Background

The aim of this study was to predict the ambulation reacquisition time after hip fracture in elderly people using the unipedal standing test during the early postoperative stage.

Methods

Patients with an intertrochanteric fracture treated with internal fixation (n = 35) and patients with a femoral neck fracture treated with hemiarthroplasty (n = 22) were included. A unipedal standing test using the nonoperated leg was performed on days 3 and 7 after the operation.

Results

Among the patients with an intertrochanteric fracture, those with a positive result on the unipedal standing test on postoperative day (POD) 3 attained gait with parallel guide bars (BG) and walker-assisted gait (WG) significantly earlier than did patients with a negative result on the unipedal standing test. Patients with a positive result on the unipedal standing test on POD 7 attained BG, WG, and cane-assisted gait (CG) significantly earlier than did patients with a negative test. Among patients with a femoral neck fracture, those with a positive unipedal standing test result on POD 3 attained BG, WG, and CG significantly earlier than did patients with a negative test. Those with a positive test result on POD 7 attained BG, WG, and CG significantly earlier than did patients with a negative test.

Conclusions

The unipedal standing test given during the early postoperative stage is a good test for predicting the ambulation reacquisition time. Moreover, it gives information that can help determine the need for subacute rehabilitation and about discharge planning and health service provision.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gifu Municipal Hospital, Gifu, Japan

    Koichi Murata, Shigeki Sugitani, Hiroki Yoshioka, Takashi Noguchi & Toshiyuki Aoto

  2. Department of Orthopeadic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan

    Koichi Murata & Takashi Nakamura

Authors
  1. Koichi Murata
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  2. Shigeki Sugitani
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  3. Hiroki Yoshioka
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  4. Takashi Noguchi
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  5. Toshiyuki Aoto
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  6. Takashi Nakamura
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Murata, K., Sugitani, S., Yoshioka, H. et al. Use of a unipedal standing test to assess the ambulation reacquisition time during the early postoperative stage after hip fracture in elderly Japanese: prospective study. J Orthop Sci 15, 38–43 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-009-1420-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-009-1420-1

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