Title: “Fractures More Feared Than Cancer”… Only 4 in 10 Elderly Patients with Cognitive Decline and Sarcopenia Walk Independently One Year After Hip Surgery
Title: “Fractures More Feared Than Cancer”… Only 4 in 10 Elderly Patients with Cognitive Decline and Sarcopenia Walk Independently One Year After Hip Surgery
[더파워 이상훈 기자] Elderly patients suffering from both cognitive decline and sarcopenia show significantly poorer recovery in walking ability after hip fracture surgery, with only 4 out of 10 regaining independent mobility one year post-operation. The finding, which highlights the urgent need for more tailored rehabilitation approaches, emerged from a study conducted by a joint research team led by Professor Jae-Young Lim from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital and Professor Seung-Kyu Lim from Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital.
On August 6, the team announced results from an analysis of 114 patients aged 65 or older who had undergone surgery for hip fractures, examining their recovery rates based on the presence of cognitive impairment and sarcopenia.
Hip fractures, typically caused by falls in elderly individuals, are considered one of the most serious geriatric injuries. Delayed recovery after surgery can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia and pressure ulcers, significantly increasing mortality rates—hence the injury is often dubbed “a fracture more feared than cancer.”
The study focused on patients who participated in the Korean-style integrated fracture rehabilitation program known as FIRM (Fracture and Integrated Rehabilitation Model), a multidisciplinary treatment involving physicians, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. The program is regarded as more effective than conventional rehabilitation in promoting walking recovery.
Despite undergoing the FIRM program, only 60.8% of patients with both cognitive impairment and sarcopenia regained the ability to walk independently after one year. In contrast, 81.8% of those with only sarcopenia recovered walking function, while the rate jumped to 90.2% for those with neither condition. Multivariate analysis further revealed that cognitive impairment alone reduced the likelihood of walking recovery by 45.8%, while the combination of cognitive decline and sarcopenia slashed recovery probability by 57%.
Professor Lim emphasized, “This study underscores the importance of incorporating cognitive assessment into rehabilitation strategies, rather than focusing solely on muscle strength.” He added, “As we enter a super-aged society, the findings provide important clinical evidence to develop personalized rehabilitation strategies for high-risk elderly patients.”
