The Study

The University of Pennsylvania, with funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, has designed the Regional vs. General Anesthesia for Promoting Independence after Hip Fracture Surgery (REGAIN) clinical research trial to determine whether one type of standard care anesthesia given to patients undergoing surgery for a hip fracture leads to better outcomes in recovery of walking, overall health and disability, pain, and survival.  This trial will enroll more than 2000 patients in over 25 cities in the United States and Canada.

 

Why It’s Being Done

Each year, hip fractures affect the lives of nearly a quarter of a million older adults in the US, and 1.6 million older adults worldwide.  The consequences of hip fractures can be severe: at two months after fracture, approximately one-third of patients will still be unable to walk independently.  At 1 year, among people who were living independently before their fracture, only 55% will have will returned home, 20% will be in new long-term care, and the other 25% will have died.

 

What Happens in the Trial?

Men and women over the age of 50 who are admitted to the hospital with a hip fracture requiring surgery may be eligible for this trial.  Once enrolled, patients will be randomly assigned to receive either general or regional anesthesia for their hip fracture surgery.  After surgery, patients will be contacted three times during the year following surgery, to complete follow-up interviews and questionnaires about their mobility and independence.

clinicaltrials.gov  NCT 02507505