Vibration therapy in the hip fracture healing of elderly

Treatment of osteoporotic bones after fractures is difficult due to osteoporotic disorders of bone formation, angiogenesis and bone mineralization, negatively influencing the healing. Since previous preclinical (animal) studies have shown that low-magnitude high-frequency vibration (LMHFV) accelerates the healing of osteoporotic fractures, researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong planned to study the effect of LMHFV on the healing process of trochanteric hip fracture healing and recovery.

• Previous animal studies have shown that LMHFV accelerates callus formation and bone mineralization, improving the healing of fractures, including osteoporotic ones.
• In addition, vibration has been shown to stimulate angiogenesis.
• The positive results of the planned study could improve the treatment of fractures which could lower healthcare costs, especially in patients with osteoporotic hip fracture.

Prepared on the basis of:

Vibration therapy as an intervention for enhancing trochanteric hip fracture healing in elderly patients: a randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Wong RMY, Chow SKH, Tang N et al. Trials. 2021 Dec 4;22(1):878.

Study population

Patients meeting certain criteria, including:

• Men or women 65 years of age or older
• with unilateral trochanteric hip fractures (as a result of an accidental fall).

Test procedure

The procedure planned is going to be a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

All fractures will be cephalomedullary nail fixed. Patients will be randomly assigned to a placebo or vibration group. Vibrotherapy will start 3 days after the surgery and will last a total of 14 days. Vibrations (LMHFV; V-health Ltd, Hong Kong; 35 Hz, 0.3 g) will be given for 20 mins/day, 5 times/week. The placebo group will follow the same study protocol, but it will be a sham treatment – without vibration, on the inactive V-health platform. Patients will be followed up to 6 months after the vibrotherapy treatments.

The following will be analyzed:

• time to heal fractures – based on computed tomography imaging and X-ray absorptiometry
• blood circulation at the fracture site using dynamic perfusion magnetic resonance imaging
• the level of functional recovery based on the results of the timed up and go test and the quality of life questionnaire (SF-36)
• balance, falls
• mortality.

Comment

Positive results of the planned study could improve the treatment of fractures, including osteoporotic ones, speeding up recovery of patients and reducing health care costs.

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