⚡ Quick Summary
A recent study demonstrated that a visualized load-bearing-based robot control system significantly enhances early functional recovery in elderly patients following total hip arthroplasty (THA). The robot group showed superior outcomes in key recovery metrics compared to those using traditional rehabilitation methods.
🔍 Key Details
- 👥 Participants: 126 patients with femoral neck fractures
- 🧪 Groups: Robot group (63 patients) vs. Control group (63 patients)
- ⏳ Rehabilitation Duration: 5-7 days in hospital, followed by home-based rehabilitation
- 📏 Outcome Measures: VAS scores, hip joint ROM, Harris scores, straight leg raising time, and 3-minute walking distance
🔑 Key Takeaways
- 🤖 Robot-assisted rehabilitation led to better early functional recovery after THA.
- 📉 Significant improvements were observed in VAS scores and hip joint ROM in the robot group.
- 🏃♂️ Enhanced mobility was noted with shorter times for straight leg raising and longer walking distances.
- 📈 Weight-bearing ratio (WBR) increased significantly over the first six weeks post-surgery.
- 💡 Visual feedback from the robot system may encourage patients to engage more actively in their rehabilitation.
- 🗓️ Follow-up: All measurements were taken one month post-surgery.
- 🔍 Study registered: National medical research registration system of China, MR-35-24-038086.
📚 Background
After undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA), patients often face challenges in standing and walking balance during the early recovery phase. Traditional rehabilitation methods may not always suffice to enhance weight-bearing amounts (WBA) effectively. This study explores the potential of a novel robot control system that provides real-time visual feedback to improve rehabilitation outcomes for elderly patients.
🗒️ Study
Conducted between July 2023 and June 2024, this randomized controlled trial involved 126 patients who had sustained femoral neck fractures. Participants were randomly assigned to either a robot-assisted rehabilitation group or a control group using conventional walking aids. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the robot system in promoting early functional recovery post-THA.
📈 Results
At the one-month postoperative follow-up, the robot group exhibited statistically significant improvements in various outcome measures, including VAS scores, hip joint ROM, and Harris scores (P < 0.05). The WBR on the operated side increased progressively, reaching 100% by the end of the sixth week, indicating effective rehabilitation facilitated by the robot system.
🌍 Impact and Implications
The findings from this study suggest that integrating a visualized load-bearing robot control system into rehabilitation protocols can significantly enhance early recovery outcomes for THA patients. This innovative approach not only improves functional recovery but also has the potential to optimize overall medical care, making it a valuable tool in rehabilitation settings.
🔮 Conclusion
This study highlights the promising role of robotic technology in rehabilitation following THA. By providing real-time visual feedback, the robot control system effectively enhances early functional recovery, paving the way for improved patient outcomes. Continued research in this area could lead to broader applications of robotic assistance in various rehabilitation contexts.
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Visualized load-bearing-based robot control system improves early function in femoral neck fracture patients: a randomized controlled trial focusing on outcomes after total hip arthroplasty.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: After total hip arthroplasty (THA), standing and walking balance are greatly affected in the early recovery period, making it important to increase weight-bearing amount (WBA) on the surgical side. Sometimes, traditional treatment methods may not be sufficient to satisfactorily improve WBA and weight-bearing ratio (WBR) on the surgical side. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a visualized load-bearing-based robot control system in promoting early functional recovery of elderly patients after THA. The system senses lower limb weight and displays it in real-time on the screen to provide visual guidance for weight-bearing.
METHODS: A total of 126 patients with femoral neck fractures who underwent THA from July 2023 to June 2024 were selected and randomly divided into a robot group or a control group. As a result, each group was allocated 63 patients. The robot group used an intelligent weight-bearing robot for rehabilitation, while the control group used conventional walking aids for rehabilitation. Patients underwent rehabilitation for 5-7 days during their hospital stay and then continued with home-based rehabilitation after discharge. All measurements were taken one month after surgery to analyze the impact of the two rehabilitation methods on early postoperative function. The main outcome measures included VAS scores, hip joint extension-flexion range of motion (ROM), Harris scores, time for straight leg raising, and 3-minute walking distance.
RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, gender, surgical time, blood loss, length of hospital stay, time to weight-bearing, and preoperative VAS score (P > 0.05). At the 1-month postoperative follow-up, the robot group demonstrated superior outcomes compared to the control group in terms of VAS score, ROM of the hip joint, Harris score, time for straight leg raising, and 3-minute walking distance, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). The WBR for the first postoperative weight-bearing on the operated side of the patient was (36.9 ± 14.0)%; it was (49.1 ± 11.1)% in the second week, (61.9 ± 8.4)% in the third week, (74.7 ± 5.8)% in the fourth week, (87.5 ± 4.0)% in the fifth week, and (100.0 ± 0.0)% in the sixth week. There were significant differences in WBR between every two postoperative weeks (p < 0.05). The WBR on the operated side of all patients reached 100% by the end of the sixth week postoperatively.
CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that a robot control system based on visualized load-bearing can effectively enhance early functional recovery after THA in a short postoperative period, making it a valuable intelligent rehabilitation system. This is beneficial for improving the ability to perform daily activities after THA and may contribute to optimizing the effectiveness of medical care.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study has been registered in national medical research registration and filing information system of China, www.medicalresearch.org.cn , Trail registration number: MR-35-24-038086.
Author: [‘Liu X’, ‘Huang C’, ‘Lin L’, ‘Zhang J’, ‘Zhu Z’]
Journal: J Orthop Surg Res
Citation: Liu X, et al. Visualized load-bearing-based robot control system improves early function in femoral neck fracture patients: a randomized controlled trial focusing on outcomes after total hip arthroplasty. Visualized load-bearing-based robot control system improves early function in femoral neck fracture patients: a randomized controlled trial focusing on outcomes after total hip arthroplasty. 2025; 20:673. doi: 10.1186/s13018-025-06035-0