Rehabilitation Following Displaced Proximal Humerus Fractures

Summary

Proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) are the third most common non-vertebral fractures in the elderly. Most elderly experience loss of function following a PHF regardless of treatment. A Cochrane review from 2015 concluded that surgical management is not superior to non-surgical management, and that the optimal non-surgical management after PHF is not known. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of usual rehabilitation care after displaced PHF compared with one-time physiotherapy instruction.

Conditions

• Shoulder Fractures

Interventions

OTHER

Pain management and shoulder bandage

All Patients receive standard pain management according to the local guidelines and a sling and swathe on the day of injury. After 10 to 14 days, all patients will receive a sling for optional use for one to two weeks and be randomized after oral and written informed consent.

OTHER

One-time physiotherapy instruction

Patients are offered a one-time physiotherapy instruction about the course of pain and suggestions for quick and safe return to activities of daily living within the first three months post-injury.

OTHER

Usual rehabilitation care

At the visit 10-14 days after the injury, the orthopaedic consultant (senior author SB) will refer the patient to usual rehabilitation care with a physiotherapist in a municipality close to the patient´s home. The physiotherapist then schedules the start date, typically three weeks after the injury. The rehabilitation content and duration is planned according to the choice of the local treating physiotherapist in consultation with the patient.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Southern Denmark

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Copenhagen

  collaborator OTHER

• Zealand University Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Behnam Liaghat, MSc · Zealand University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark

• Stig Brorson, PhD · Zealand University Hospital, University of Copenhagen

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2022-05-05

Primary Completion

2025-01-20

Completion

2025-01-20

Countries

• Denmark

Study Locations