Visualized load-bearing-based robot control system improves early function in femoral neck fracture patients: a randomized controlled trial focusing on outcomes after total hip arthroplasty

Abstract Background After total hip arthroplasty (THA), standing and walking balance are greatly affected in the early recovery period, making it important to increase weight-bearing amount (WBA) on the surgical side. Sometimes, traditional treatment methods may not be sufficient to satisfactorily i...

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Main Authors: Xiaofeng Liu, Changzhi Huang, Liang Lin, Jinshan Zhang, Zhenzhong Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-06035-0
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author Xiaofeng Liu
Changzhi Huang
Liang Lin
Jinshan Zhang
Zhenzhong Zhu
author_facet Xiaofeng Liu
Changzhi Huang
Liang Lin
Jinshan Zhang
Zhenzhong Zhu
author_sort Xiaofeng Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background After total hip arthroplasty (THA), standing and walking balance are greatly affected in the early recovery period, making it important to increase weight-bearing amount (WBA) on the surgical side. Sometimes, traditional treatment methods may not be sufficient to satisfactorily improve WBA and weight-bearing ratio (WBR) on the surgical side. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a visualized load-bearing-based robot control system in promoting early functional recovery of elderly patients after THA. The system senses lower limb weight and displays it in real-time on the screen to provide visual guidance for weight-bearing. Methods A total of 126 patients with femoral neck fractures who underwent THA from July 2023 to June 2024 were selected and randomly divided into a robot group or a control group. As a result, each group was allocated 63 patients. The robot group used an intelligent weight-bearing robot for rehabilitation, while the control group used conventional walking aids for rehabilitation. Patients underwent rehabilitation for 5–7 days during their hospital stay and then continued with home-based rehabilitation after discharge. All measurements were taken one month after surgery to analyze the impact of the two rehabilitation methods on early postoperative function. The main outcome measures included VAS scores, hip joint extension-flexion range of motion (ROM), Harris scores, time for straight leg raising, and 3-minute walking distance. Results There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, gender, surgical time, blood loss, length of hospital stay, time to weight-bearing, and preoperative VAS score (P > 0.05). At the 1-month postoperative follow-up, the robot group demonstrated superior outcomes compared to the control group in terms of VAS score, ROM of the hip joint, Harris score, time for straight leg raising, and 3-minute walking distance, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). The WBR for the first postoperative weight-bearing on the operated side of the patient was (36.9 ± 14.0)%; it was (49.1 ± 11.1)% in the second week, (61.9 ± 8.4)% in the third week, (74.7 ± 5.8)% in the fourth week, (87.5 ± 4.0)% in the fifth week, and (100.0 ± 0.0)% in the sixth week. There were significant differences in WBR between every two postoperative weeks (p < 0.05). The WBR on the operated side of all patients reached 100% by the end of the sixth week postoperatively. Conclusion This study demonstrates that a robot control system based on visualized load-bearing can effectively enhance early functional recovery after THA in a short postoperative period, making it a valuable intelligent rehabilitation system. This is beneficial for improving the ability to perform daily activities after THA and may contribute to optimizing the effectiveness of medical care. Trial registration This study has been registered in national medical research registration and filing information system of China, www.medicalresearch.org.cn , Trail registration number: MR-35-24-038086.
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spelling doaj-art-4bb25330c6ee493eafdface7a9fe6b2d2025-08-20T03:05:10ZengBMCJournal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research1749-799X2025-07-012011910.1186/s13018-025-06035-0Visualized load-bearing-based robot control system improves early function in femoral neck fracture patients: a randomized controlled trial focusing on outcomes after total hip arthroplastyXiaofeng Liu0Changzhi Huang1Liang Lin2Jinshan Zhang3Zhenzhong Zhu4Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital FujianDepartment of Joint Surgery and Sports Medicine, Ningde Municipal Hospital of Ningde Normal UniversityDepartment of Orthopaedics, The First Hospital of Putian CityDepartment of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital FujianDepartment of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital FujianAbstract Background After total hip arthroplasty (THA), standing and walking balance are greatly affected in the early recovery period, making it important to increase weight-bearing amount (WBA) on the surgical side. Sometimes, traditional treatment methods may not be sufficient to satisfactorily improve WBA and weight-bearing ratio (WBR) on the surgical side. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a visualized load-bearing-based robot control system in promoting early functional recovery of elderly patients after THA. The system senses lower limb weight and displays it in real-time on the screen to provide visual guidance for weight-bearing. Methods A total of 126 patients with femoral neck fractures who underwent THA from July 2023 to June 2024 were selected and randomly divided into a robot group or a control group. As a result, each group was allocated 63 patients. The robot group used an intelligent weight-bearing robot for rehabilitation, while the control group used conventional walking aids for rehabilitation. Patients underwent rehabilitation for 5–7 days during their hospital stay and then continued with home-based rehabilitation after discharge. All measurements were taken one month after surgery to analyze the impact of the two rehabilitation methods on early postoperative function. The main outcome measures included VAS scores, hip joint extension-flexion range of motion (ROM), Harris scores, time for straight leg raising, and 3-minute walking distance. Results There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, gender, surgical time, blood loss, length of hospital stay, time to weight-bearing, and preoperative VAS score (P > 0.05). At the 1-month postoperative follow-up, the robot group demonstrated superior outcomes compared to the control group in terms of VAS score, ROM of the hip joint, Harris score, time for straight leg raising, and 3-minute walking distance, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). The WBR for the first postoperative weight-bearing on the operated side of the patient was (36.9 ± 14.0)%; it was (49.1 ± 11.1)% in the second week, (61.9 ± 8.4)% in the third week, (74.7 ± 5.8)% in the fourth week, (87.5 ± 4.0)% in the fifth week, and (100.0 ± 0.0)% in the sixth week. There were significant differences in WBR between every two postoperative weeks (p < 0.05). The WBR on the operated side of all patients reached 100% by the end of the sixth week postoperatively. Conclusion This study demonstrates that a robot control system based on visualized load-bearing can effectively enhance early functional recovery after THA in a short postoperative period, making it a valuable intelligent rehabilitation system. This is beneficial for improving the ability to perform daily activities after THA and may contribute to optimizing the effectiveness of medical care. Trial registration This study has been registered in national medical research registration and filing information system of China, www.medicalresearch.org.cn , Trail registration number: MR-35-24-038086.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-06035-0Visualized loadRobotTotal hip arthroplastyFemoral neck fractureEarly function
spellingShingle Xiaofeng Liu
Changzhi Huang
Liang Lin
Jinshan Zhang
Zhenzhong Zhu
Visualized load-bearing-based robot control system improves early function in femoral neck fracture patients: a randomized controlled trial focusing on outcomes after total hip arthroplasty
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research
Visualized load
Robot
Total hip arthroplasty
Femoral neck fracture
Early function
title Visualized load-bearing-based robot control system improves early function in femoral neck fracture patients: a randomized controlled trial focusing on outcomes after total hip arthroplasty
title_full Visualized load-bearing-based robot control system improves early function in femoral neck fracture patients: a randomized controlled trial focusing on outcomes after total hip arthroplasty
title_fullStr Visualized load-bearing-based robot control system improves early function in femoral neck fracture patients: a randomized controlled trial focusing on outcomes after total hip arthroplasty
title_full_unstemmed Visualized load-bearing-based robot control system improves early function in femoral neck fracture patients: a randomized controlled trial focusing on outcomes after total hip arthroplasty
title_short Visualized load-bearing-based robot control system improves early function in femoral neck fracture patients: a randomized controlled trial focusing on outcomes after total hip arthroplasty
title_sort visualized load bearing based robot control system improves early function in femoral neck fracture patients a randomized controlled trial focusing on outcomes after total hip arthroplasty
topic Visualized load
Robot
Total hip arthroplasty
Femoral neck fracture
Early function
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-06035-0
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AT lianglin visualizedloadbearingbasedrobotcontrolsystemimprovesearlyfunctioninfemoralneckfracturepatientsarandomizedcontrolledtrialfocusingonoutcomesaftertotalhiparthroplasty
AT jinshanzhang visualizedloadbearingbasedrobotcontrolsystemimprovesearlyfunctioninfemoralneckfracturepatientsarandomizedcontrolledtrialfocusingonoutcomesaftertotalhiparthroplasty
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