Evaluation of the effectiveness of telerehabilitation on elderly patients after surgery for intertrochanteric fractures and their family caregivers

LI Zewei; FAN Junjun; WANG Taoran; YUAN Zhi

doi:10.13276/j.issn.2097-1656.2024.11.013

Abstract：Objective To compare the advantages of telerehabilitation guidance over routine follow-up in promoting postoperative hip function recovery and reducing the burden on family caregivers of elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures.Methods A total of 80 pairs of elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures who underwent intramedullary fixation at Xijing Hospital,Air Force Medical University from January 1,2022 to December 31,2022,and their family caregivers were included in the study.They were divided into control group(n=42)and intervention group(n=38)according to random number table method.Both groups of patients and their family caregivers received health education and discharge instruction for patients leaving hospital.The control group underwent routine outpatient follow-up and telephone follow-up 6 weeks after surgery,while the intervention group received telerehabilitation guidance via online video 2,4,and 8 weeks after surgery.Both groups of patients underwent hip function scoring and questionnaires were distributed to patients and their family caregivers at the 12th week after surgery.The scores of 12-item Short-Form Health Survey,Caregiver Task Inventory,and Caregiver Burden Inventory of patients and family caregivers were collected.Results At the 12th week after surgery,the intervention group showed significantly better hip function and quality of life compared with the control group,with statistically significant differences(both P＜0.01).The family caregivers in the intervention group had higher caregiver competence and lower burden compared with the control group,with statistically significant differences(both P＜0.01).Conclusion Telerehabilitation guidance has more advantages than routine follow-up in improving postoperative functional recovery of patients with intertrochanteric fractures and enhancing the caregiver competence of family caregivers,thereby reducing the burden on families.It is a means that can be widely utilized and promoted.