Early Full Weight-Bearing Exercises to Improve Gait Function in Older Adult Patients Following Surgery for Distal Femoral Fractures

Introduction Postoperative rehabilitation for distal femur fracture generally requires gait exercises with weight-bearing restrictions. We aimed to determine whether full weight-bearing gait exercises immediately postoperatively effectively maintain walking ability in older adult patients with distal femur fractures. Methods Patients diagnosed with distal femur fractures between April 2017 and March 2024 were retrospectively evaluated. Patients aged ≥75 years who had undergone surgical treatment were classified into full weight-bearing (FWB) and non-weight-bearing (NWB) groups, with FWB and NWB gait exercises starting immediately postoperatively. Patient background was evaluated in terms of age at time of surgery, sex, weight, cognitive function, and fracture type (AO classification). Postoperative outcomes were operative time, intraoperative blood loss, gait function, and postoperative complications. Two osteosynthesis conditions that allowed postoperative FWB were achievement of bony support through anatomical reduction of the medial femur and the use of adequate supplemental fixation to maintain reduction. Results The study comprised 21 patients (1 man, 20 women; mean age, 87.2 [79-99] years). Extra- and intra-articular fractures were identified in 16 and 5 patients, respectively. The surgical procedures were lateral plating, double plating, and one-stage total knee arthroplasty in 16, 3, and 2 patients, respectively. There were 9 and 12 patients in the FWB and NWB groups, respectively, with no significant differences in patient background. The mean decrease in the Parker mobility score was 0.11 points (range, -3-2 points) in the FWB group vs 1.92 points (range, 0-3 points) in the NWB group, indicating that gait function was maintained in the FWB group ( P = 0.0063). Two and 9 patients in the FWB and NWB groups, respectively, experienced complications ( P = 0.017). Conclusion Consideration should be given to treatment involving orthogeriatric care for older adults with distal femur fractures. Rehabilitation with FWB can preserve gait function and reduce postoperative complications.