Does Hip Bone Density Differ between Paretic and Non-Paretic Sides in Hemiplegic Stroke Patients? and Its Relationship with Physical Impairment

The relationship between falls and hip bone mineral density of paretic and nonparetic limbs after stroke

BACKGROUND

Poststroke osteoporosis, particularly of the hip, and an increased risk of fractures due to accidental falls are well known in people with stroke. Only a few of the current stroke guidelines recommend bone mineral density (BMD) measurements during follow-up in this population and measurements are often performed unilaterally.

OBJECTIVES

To compare femoral hip BMD between fallers and nonfallers among patients with stroke, while also assessing differences in balance, mobility, fear of falling, and exploring discrepancies between paretic and nonparetic sides within each group.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

SETTING

Inpatient stroke rehabilitation unit of a tertiary university hospital.

PATIENTS

Patients with unilateral hemiplegia hospitalized as a result of stroke.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was the femoral neck BMD measurement. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to measure BMD. Secondary outcomes included Berg balance scale (BBS), timed up-and-go test (TUGT), functional ambulation classification (FAC), and falls efficacy scale-international (FES-I).

RESULTS

A total of 44 patients were enrolled. Twenty-two participants (50%) reported falling. There were no statistically significant differences in BMD (p = .504, p = .197, p = .667, respectively) and T-scores (p = .457, p = .194, p = .693, respectively) of paretic, nonparetic femoral neck, and lumbar spine between nonfallers and fallers. The BBS (p = .033, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.17-19.05) was significantly lower in the fallers. The FES-I was statistically significantly higher in the fallers (p = .001, 95% CI -22.40 to -6.50). The BMD and T-scores of femoral neck between the paretic and the nonparetic limbs did not differ significantly in the nonfallers (n = 22) (p = .908, 95% CI -0.03-0.03; p = .886, 95% CI -0.27-0.24) but did differ in the fallers (n = 22) (p = .007, 95% CI -0.06 to -0.01; p = .006, 95% CI -0.51 to -0.09).

CONCLUSIONS

This study emphasizes that hip BMD may differ on paretic and nonparetic sides, especially in patients with stroke and a history of falls and balance problems. Fall-related self-efficacy and balance may be determinants of falls in these patients.

Association between bone mineral density and stroke: a meta-analysis

Objective

The correlation between bone mineral density (BMD) and stroke remains inconsistent. This study aims to determine whether a reduction in BMD is associated with an increased risk of stroke.

Methods

We systematically searched Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews through January 2025 to identify cohort studies with follow-up that reported the influence of a reduction in BMD or low BMD status on the risk of any type of stroke. Pooled analyses were performed using random-effects models.

Results

This study included 13 studies with 146,758 individuals. A 1 SD reduction in BMD was associated with an increased risk of stroke (eight studies; RR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.09-1.40; p < 0.001; I2 = 87%). Subgroup analysis showed that a per SD reduction in BMD was associated with incident stroke in female persons (eight studies; RR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.09-1.51; p = 0.002; I2 = 87%), but not in male persons (four studies; RR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.99-1.10; p = 0.15; I2 = 0%). People with osteoporosis or osteopenia had an increased risk of incident stroke (six studies; RR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.22-2.08; p < 0.001; I2 = 92%), as well as male persons (two studies; RR, 3.16; 95% CI, 1.96-5.12; p < 0.001; I2 = 35%). Sensitivity analysis showed that the results were stable.

Conclusion

Reduction in BMD is associated with a significantly increased risk of stroke. Female individuals have a higher risk than male persons.

Discordance Between Spine-Hip and Paretic-Nonparetic Hip Bone Mineral Density in Hemiplegic Stroke Patients: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVE

To identify the prevalence and factors associated with T-score discordance between the spine and hip, as well as between the paretic and non-paretic hips in hemiplegic stroke patients, this study investigated bone mineral density (BMD) patterns. Bone loss predominantly affects the paretic hip after a stroke, and typical clinical assessments using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) that scan the lumbar spine (LS) and a single hip may overlook an osteoporosis diagnosis. This oversight could potentially lead to suboptimal treatment for stroke patients.

METHODS

This study was a multicenter retrospective analysis of 540 patients admitted for stroke rehabilitation between October 2014 and February 2022, who underwent DXA of LS and bilateral hips.

RESULTS

The prevalence rates of concordance, low LS discordance, and low hip discordance between the LS and hips were 48.2%, 12.2%, and 39.6%, respectively. The discordance rate between bilateral hips was 17.0%. The paretic side had significantly lower total hip T-scores than the non-paretic side (p<0.001). Notably low paretic hip discordance was more prevalent during the chronic phase. DXA scans of the LS and both hips revealed a 0.7%-0.9% higher major discordance compared to LS and single hip DXA scans. The multivariate analysis revealed a significant correlation between a low paretic hip discordance and cognitive impairment (adjusted odds ratio 0.071, 95% confidence interval 0.931-1.003, p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Since stroke survivors are at high risk for hip fractures, comprehensive BMD assessments, which include LS and bilateral hips, should be considered for post-stroke osteoporosis care to enhance diagnostic accuracy and timely treatment.

A Study on the Effect of Precise Rehabilitation Therapy Guided by Three-dimensional-computed Tomography Reconstruction Technology in Hip Fracture Surgery Patients

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of precise rehabilitation therapy guided by three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) reconstruction technology in hip fracture patients through a retrospective cohort study.

METHOD

Data were retrospectively collected from 60 patients aged over 60 who had undergone hip fracture surgery. They were divided into two groups based on their chosen rehabilitation method: a control group and a test group. The study collected demographic data, fracture characteristics, and quality of life indicators to assess the impact of rehabilitation on economic indicators and daily living activities (ADL). Additionally, it included assessments of muscle strength, joint mobility, hip function, postoperative complications, and records of hospitalization information and costs. Cognitive function was also assessed postoperatively.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in demographic data, fracture characteristics, ADL, or Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) between the two groups. However, the test group exhibited significantly higher post-surgery muscle strength recovery and hip mobility compared to the control group (P<0.05). Additionally, the test group had significantly fewer hospitalization days and lower hospitalization costs than the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Precise rehabilitation therapy guided by 3D-CT reconstruction technology for hip fracture surgery patients can enhance early muscle strength recovery, improve mobility of the affected limb, reduce hospitalization duration and costs, and enhance overall patient recovery outcomes.

Dual-mobility cup total hip arthroplasty improves the quality of life compared to internal fixation in femoral neck fractures patients with severe neuromuscular disease in the lower extremity after stroke: a retrospective study

Background

This study aimed to demonstrate that dual-mobility cup total hip arthroplasty (DMC-THA) can significantly improve the quality of life (QOL) of elderly femoral neck fracture patients with severe neuromuscular disease in unilateral lower extremities due to stroke hemiplegia compared to internal fixation (IF).

Methods

Fifty-eight cases of severe neuromuscular disease in the unilateral lower extremities with muscle strength < grade 3/5 due to stroke were retrospectively examined From January 2015 to December 2020. Then, patients were divided into DMC and IF groups. The QOL was examined using the EQ-5D and SF-36 outcome measures. The physical and mental statuses were assessed using the Barthel Index (BI) and e Fall Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), respectively.

Results

Patients in the DMC group had higher BI scores than those in the IF group at different time point. Regarding mental status, the FES-I mean score was 42.1 ± 5.3 in the DMC group and 47.3 ± 5.6 in the IF group (p = 0.002). For the QOL, the mean SF-36 score was 46.1 ± 18.3 for the health component and 59.5 ± 15.0 for the mental component in the DMC group compared to 35.3 ± 16.2 (p = 0.035), and 46.6 ± 17.4 (p = 0.006) compared to the IF group. The mean EQ-5D-5L values were 0.733 ± 0.190 and 0.303 ± 0.227 in the DMC and IF groups (p = 0.035), respectively.

Conclusion

DMC-THA significantly improved postoperative QOL compared to IF in elderly patients with femoral neck fractures and severe neuromuscular dysfunction in the lower extremity after stroke. The improved outcomes were related to the enhanced early, rudimentary motor function of patients.

Nutritional Supplements and Neuroprotective Diets and Their Potential Clinical Significance in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation

Nutrition and rehabilitation are crucial in post-stroke recovery, especially in the elderly. Since stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability, there is a need to promote special, individually tailored nutrition strategies targeting older patients with low motor ability. Chronic stroke survivors have higher risk of developing nutrition-related chronic diseases, such as sarcopenia, anemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus and osteoporosis. Moreover, reduced motor activity, cognitive impairment and depression might be aggravated by poor malnutrition status. Accumulated data suggest that nutritional supplements and neuroprotective diets can be associated with better effectiveness of post-stroke rehabilitation as well as brain recovery. Therefore, this review focuses on preventive strategies that can improve dietary intake and change dietary patterns. We highlight the importance of neuroprotective diets, the problem of dysphagia and the role of nutrition in rehabilitation. This article focuses on potential nutritional supplements and neuroprotective diets that may have an impact on functional recovery during and after rehabilitation. Moreover, a new approach to post-stroke neuroplasticity including the use of agents from marine sources such as fucoxanthin and tramiprosate as compounds that might be used as potential neuroprotectants with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties is introduced.