Assessing the Impact of Early Mobilization Protocols on Recovery and Length of Hospital Stay for Hip Fracture Fixation Patients

Authors: Mohammed S. Aldakhil, Alhassan A. Alsharif, Turki A. Aljabaan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12680142

Short DOI: https://doi.org/gt3rj5

Country: Saudi Arabia

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Abstract: This study investigates the effects of early mobilization protocols on recovery outcomes and hospital stay lengths for elderly patients undergoing surgical fixation of hip fractures. A prospective cohort design included 100 participants aged 65 years and older, allocated into two groups based on admission dates: an Early Mobilization Group (n = 50) receiving interventions within 24 hours post-surgery, and a Standard Care Group (n = 50) following traditional mobilization protocols initiated after 48 hours post-surgery. Quantitative measures included length of hospital stay (LOS) and functional recovery assessed using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews to explore patient experiences.

Results indicated that the Early Mobilization Group had a significantly shorter mean hospital stay (7.2 days ± 1.5) compared to the Standard Care Group (9.5 days ± 2.0) (p < 0.05). Functional recovery, as measured by the TUG test, also favored the Early Mobilization Group (mean TUG score 15.8 seconds ± 3.2) over the Standard Care Group (19.5 seconds ± 4.0) (p < 0.05). Qualitative findings highlighted themes of improved confidence in recovery and satisfaction with supportive care among early mobilization participants, despite challenges such as pain and fatigue.

Keywords: early mobilization, hip fracture, recovery outcomes, hospital stay, Timed Up and Go test, elderly patients

Paper Id: 230735

Published On: 2023-03-01

Published In: Volume 11, Issue 2, March-April 2023

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