Supervised rehabilitation comparable to single advice session after nonoperative treatment of displaced proximal humerus fracture: a randomized controlled trial.

Study Summary

60 older adults aged 60 years or more with displaced proximal humerus fractures (PHF) treated nonoperatively were included in this pragmatic, superiority, controlled trial in which patients were randomized to either receive a single advice session plus supervised rehabilitation or a single advice session alone. The primary outcome of interest was patient-reported shoulder pain and function measured using the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included OSS at 12 months, health-related quality of life measured using European Quality of life-5 Dimensions-3-Level (EQ-5D-3L) and EQ VAS, conversion to surgery, and adverse events. Outcomes were assessed at 6 and 12 months after injury. Overall, the results suggest that routine supervised rehabilitation may not be necessary for all older adults with displaced PHF managed nonoperatively and that a single structured advice session may provide comparable patient-reported recovery.