The comprehensive HIFSAT study is currently underway at the Orthopaedic Department at Diakonhjemmet Hospital. It will compare two different surgical methods for inserting hemiprotheses in elderly patients with hip fractures. The study will examine the traditional method, where the hip muscle, gluteus medius, is released to gain access to the hip joint, and a new muscle-sparing posterior method, called SPAIRE.
– The standard method is to release the gluteus medius muscle to access the hip joint, which can lead to limping and pain in around 20 percent of patients after surgery. Even if the muscle is sewn back into place, some stitches can break or the muscle can become weak, explains doctoral candidate and LIS 3 (doctor in specialization) in orthopedics, Maren Paus. She has the HIFSAT. study as her doctoral project.
The new method, SPAIRE, avoids loosening the muscle. This reduces the risk of limping and pain. The method also provides increased stability and reduces the risk of the prosthesis dislocating.
The importance of optimal treatment
Elderly patients with hip fractures are a vulnerable group who need the best possible treatment to recover quickly and well after surgery. The HIFSAT study aims to improve treatment methods and potentially change practice both nationally and internationally.
Long-term follow-up
After a month and a half, 25 patients have been included in the study, which has exceeded expectations. The orthopedists on duty have done an impressive job of including patients.
Patients are asked to participate in the study before surgery, and then they are followed for two years. The main goal is to find out whether one surgical method gives better results than the other. In addition, quality of life, length of hospital stay and prosthesis placement are measured.
Orthopedic ward A at Diakonhjemmet Hospital specializes in treating elderly people with hip fractures. Photo: Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Øyvind Røsøvåg Hagen
World-class team and bed linen
The team behind the study consists, in addition to Maren Paus, of project manager, postdoc and senior consultant at the Department of Orthopaedics, Mads Sundet, deputy head of REMEDY, and head of the Clinical Research Unit, Siri Lillegraven, LIS 3 and postdoc Ulf Sundin, senior consultant Kristian Sydnes at the Department of Orthopaedics, physiotherapist, advisor and PhD at the Department of Clinical Activity (AKA), Sylvia Sunde and Haldor Valland, department head at the Department of Orthopaedics.
Orthopedic Ward A at Diakonhjemmet Hospital has been a specialist department for hip fractures for over 10 years, treating patients from eight of Oslo's 15 districts. The department is known for its high quality of treatment and has 22 beds as well as its own emergency department for hip fracture patients.
Clinic Manager Magne Flatlandsmo at the Clinic for Anesthesia and Surgery emphasizes the importance of offering optimal treatment for elderly people with hip fractures. Through the HIFSAT study, we contribute to further developing patient treatment both locally and internationally.
– The treatment of elderly people with hip fractures has been a development and focus area for the clinic for several years. Through the HIFSAT study, Diakonhjemmet takes responsibility for further developing patient treatment, not only locally, but both nationally and internationally, says Clinic Manager Magne Flatlandsmo, Clinic for Anesthesia and Surgery.
Read more about the study: HIFSAT (remedy-senter.no)
