Efficacy of comprehensive rehabilitation training for elderly patients with lower limb fractures after surgery

Exploring the efficacy of comprehensive rehabilitation training (CRT) for elderly patients with lower limb fractures (LLF) after surgery.

This is a single center retrospective cohort study included clinical data of 120 elderly patients with LLF who underwent surgical treatment at Dongguan Chang'an Hospital from February 2021 to August 2023. Of them, 58 patients received routine rehabilitation training (control group) and 62 patients received CRT (observation group). Range of motion of lower limb joints, activities of daily living (ADLs), pain intensity, and incidence of complications were compared between the two groups.

After surgery, curvature, straightness, and degree of flexion and extension of the lower limb joints in both groups significantly increased, and was significantly greater in the observation group (P<0.05). Modified Barthel Index (MBI) scores of both groups significantly increased after surgery, and was significantly higher in the observation group (P<0.05). Post-surgery visual analog scale (VAS) scores of both groups significantly decreased, and were significantly lower in the observation group (P<0.05). The incidence of complications was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05).

Implementing CRT for elderly patients with LLF can increase the range of motion of the lower limb joints, improve ADLs, alleviate pain levels, and reduce the risk of complications.