Coordinated multidisciplinary rehabilitation after hip fracture

Purpose: To review the topic of coordinated multidisciplinary rehabilitation after hip fracture from a research perspective and to provide information to guide the provision of rehabilitation services for patients with hip fracture.

Methods: Literature review including searches of Medline, Embase, Cochrane Collaboration and evidence based clinical guidelines, checking of references of publications and consultation with researchers.

Results: The research evidence is heterogeneous and remains inclusive. Programs that assist patients with hip fracture to regain function and return home as soon as feasible are likely to be effective as they appear to increase the percentage of patients who return home and remain there after hip fracture. Rehabilitation programs that achieve this are likely to be cost effective. These programs involve health professionals from multiple disciplines (nurses, allied health professionals and medical practitioners) who work collaboratively, may operate in several settings, and routinely provide specific treatments that are supported by strong evidence of effectiveness.

Conclusions: Patients with hip fracture should be offered a coordinated a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program with the specific aim of regaining sufficient function to return to their pre-fracture living arrangements.