Rehabilitation for long-term care residents following hip fracture: a survey of reported rehabilitation practices and perceived barriers to delivery of care.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In Canada, residents of long-term care (LTC) facilities are frequently transferred back to their residential facilities to continue recovery 1 week following hip fractures. Limited evidence is available regarding rehabilitation services in LTC facilities following hip fracture or rehabilitation practices after hip fracture for persons with dementia. We previously performed a systematic review of the impact of rehabilitation after hip fractures on persons with dementia. The purpose of this project was to augment our systematic review findings and determine current reported rehabilitation practices of rehabilitation professionals working in LTC facilities with hip-fractured patients with dementia and examine perceived barriers to the delivery of rehabilitation. METHODS: We performed a survey study of rehabilitation professionals working in LTC facilities in a Canadian province, using a modified Delphi Consensus approach and a Web-based survey format. The survey was constructed on the basis of our systematic literature review and through discussions with clinical experts. A 2-round modified Delphi consensus approach was used to attain consensus among respondents. Examination of agreement and disagreement among respondents in the areas of (1) current practice and (2) perceived barriers to care was undertaken. RESULTS: A total of 42 respondents completed round 1 and 27 respondents completed round 2. Respondents were primarily female and working as physical therapists or occupational therapists. Most worked at facilities that employed at least 1 physical therapist and 1 occupational therapist. Treatment strategies for patients with hip fracture focused on return to independent ambulation and transfers. Although cognition was seen as a barrier to treatment, respondents implemented strategies to mitigate this barrier. Inadequate time and staffing were also seen as barriers to effective treatment. DISCUSSION: Rehabilitation professionals working in LTC facilities reported that the residents with dementia can and should participate in rehabilitation following hip fractures; however, they identified time and staffing constraints in addition to cognitive impairment as barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Current research in LTC facilities is very sparse and little is known about the rehabilitation care provided in these facilities. Further research is needed to determine the most effective rehabilitation interventions following hip fractures for residents of LTC facilities with dementia.

Rehabilitation in patients with dementia following hip fracture: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Best rehabilitation practices after hip fracture for people with dementia have not been established. A systematic review was conducted to determine current evidence for rehabilitation in this population, including residents in continuing care. METHODS: Standardized review methodology was used to search eight databases for literature on hip-fracture rehabilitation for people with dementia. Eligible studies included participants with dementia who had a hip fracture; performed a rehabilitation intervention; and evaluated one or more of function, ambulation, discharge location, or falls. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess validity. RESULTS: A total of 13 studies were included: five randomized controlled trials (RCTs), seven prospective cohort series, and one retrospective cohort study. Average quality ratings for RCTs and cohort studies were good and fair respectively. Participants with mild to moderate dementia receiving rehabilitation showed similar relative gains in function to those without dementia. Only one study examined the effect of rehabilitation among residents in continuing care. CONCLUSIONS: People with mild or moderate dementia may show improved function and ambulation and decreased fall risk after rehabilitation post hip fracture, similar to gains achieved by those without dementia. More research is required to ascertain the effect of rehabilitation in people with moderate to severe dementia, including those residing in continuing-care settings.Purpose: Best rehabilitation practices after hip fracture for people with dementia have not been established. A systematic review was conducted to determine current evidence for rehabilitation in this population, including residents in continuing care. Methods: Standardized review methodology was used to search eight databases for literature on hip-fracture rehabilitation for people with dementia. Eligible studies included participants with dementia who had a hip fracture; performed a rehabilitation intervention; and evaluated one or more of function, ambulation, discharge location, or falls. The Newcastle­Ottawa Scale was used to assess validity. Results: A total of 13 studies were included: five randomized controlled trials (RCTs), seven prospective cohort series, and one retrospective cohort study. Average quality ratings for RCTs and cohort studies were good and fair respectively. Participants with mild to moderate dementia receiving rehabilitation showed similar relative gains in function to those without dementia. Only one study examined the effect of rehabilitation among residents in continuing care. Conclusions: People with mild or moderate dementia may show improved function and ambulation and decreased fall risk after rehabilitation post hip fracture, similar to gains achieved by those without dementia. More research is required to ascertain the effect of rehabilitation in people with moderate to severe dementia, including those residing in continuing-care settings.

RÉSUMÉ Objectif : Il n'y a pas de pratiques exemplaires d'établies pour la réadaptation après une fracture de la hanche chez les personnes aux prises avec la démence. Nous avons procédé à une revue systématique en vue de recueillir les faits cliniques relatifs à la réadaptation chez ce segment de la population, y compris les personnes en soins prolongés. Méthode : Une méthodologie d'examen de documents normalisée a été utilisée pour effectuer une recherche dans huit bases de données afin de recueillir de la documentation sur la réadaptation après une fracture de la hanche chez les personnes souffrant de démence. Les études admissibles traitaient de patients avec démence qui avaient subi une fracture de la hanche; auprès de qui on avait procédé à une intervention en réadaptation; et où au moins une fonction, la marche, le site du congé ou les risques de chutes avaient été évalués. L'échelle de Newcastle­Ottawa a été utilisée aux fins d'évaluation de la validité de ces études. Résultats : Au total, 13 études ont été répertoriées; cinq essais contrôlés randomisés (ECR), sept études de cohorte prospective et une étude de cohorte rétrospective. La qualité moyenne des ECR et des études de cohortes étaient respectivement bonne à moyenne. Les participants avec démence légère à modérée qui recevaient des traitements de réadaptation ont démontré des gains relatifs de fonction similaires à ceux qui ne souffraient pas de démence. Une seule de ces études s'est penchée sur les effets de la réadaptation chez les résidents d'établissements de soins prolongés. Conclusions : Les personnes souffrant de démence légère ou modérée ont démontré une fonction et une ambulation améliorées, de même qu'une réduction des risques de chutes après des soins en réadaptation à la suite d'une fracture de la hanche; ces gains étaient similaires chez les personnes non affectées par la démence. D'autres recherches seront nécessaires pour étudier les effets de la réadaptation chez les personnes souffrant de démence modérée à grave, y compris celles qui résident dans des établissements de soins prolongés.

Vsx1 regulates terminal differentiation of type 7 ON bipolar cells.

Although retinal bipolar cells represent a morphologically well defined population of retinal interneurons, very little is known about the developmental mechanisms that regulate their processing. Furthermore, the identity of specific bipolar cell types that function in distinct visual circuits remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the homeobox gene Vsx1 is expressed in Type 7 ON bipolar cells. In the absence of Vsx1, Type 7 bipolar cells exhibit proper morphological specification but show defects in terminal gene expression. Vsx1 is required for the repression of bipolar cell-specific markers, including Calcium-binding protein 5 and Chx10. This contrasts its genetic requirement as an activator of gene expression in OFF bipolar cells. To assess possible ON signaling defects in Vsx1-null mice, we recorded specifically from ON-OFF directionally selective ganglion cells (DSGCs), which cofasciculate with Type 7 bipolar cell terminals. Vsx1-null ON-OFF DSGCs received more sustained excitatory synaptic input, possibly due to Type 7 bipolar cell defects. Interestingly, in Vsx1-null mice, the directionally selective circuit is functional but compromised. Together, these findings indicate that Vsx1 regulates terminal gene expression in Type 7 bipolar cells and is necessary for proper ON visual signaling within a directionally selective circuit.