Feasibility of Integrating Local Vibration Into Rehabilitation of Elderly Patients After Hip Fracture

Plain-language summary

Fractures of the upper end of the femur in elderly patients are the 2nd most common fracture. A fracture leads to a syndrome of psychomotor maladjustment, encouraged by pain and aggravated by hospitalisation. In 2014, 50,000 women and 16,000 men suffered this type of fracture every year. The consequences are serious, with a one-year mortality rate of 20 to 24% and an institutionalisation rate of 25%. In 2015, the direct cost of hip fracture in France was estimated at around €1 billion. In line with the recommendations of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the results of meta-analyses, it is recommended that, in the absence of surgical or medical contraindications, patients should be assessed within 24 hours of hip fracture surgery, with a view to initiating early mobilisation and multidisciplinary rehabilitation. It has been shown in healthy subjects that prolonged application of localised vibrations optimises nerve capacity, leading to an increase in maximum voluntary force. For population of frail elderly post-operative patients, this localised vibration technique could accelerate and improve functional recovery, particularly in terms of muscle strength, joint mobility and pain. A reduction in muscle loss is hoped for, with benefits in terms of tolerance compared with neurostimulation. As part of the implementation of the above-mentioned recommendations, the investigators wish to assess the quality of the integration of this technique, already in use in the department on an ad hoc basis, into the organisation of the department and of the patient's care pathway as a complement to the rehabilitation protocols, by identifying the obstacles and facilitating factors. The study will also provide the first estimates of the effect on muscle recovery. The investigator hypothesise that this local vibration protocol can be integrated into the rehabilitation department's work schedule and into the patient's care pathway, and that it will be acceptable to both the patient and the nursing staff.

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