Range of motion of lower limb joints of stroke patients at the time of hospital discharge and post-stroke femoral neck fracture

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between stroke patients' lower limb joints' range of motion (ROM) at the time of hospital discharge and post-stroke femoral neck fracture. [Subjects] The subjects were 41 femoral neck fracture patients at Sankuro Hospital: 28 cases with history of stroke; 13 cases with no history of stroke. [Methods] We investigated the length of hospital stay for fracture, side of fracture, ROM of lower limb joints at the times of hospital admittance and discharge, activities of daily living (ADL), and circumstances of the fracture. For 7 cases, we further researched ROM of lower limb joints at the time of hospital discharge for stroke, ADL, and the time from hospital discharge for stroke to fracture. [Results] There were a number of cases of right side hemiplegia patients who experienced fracture while going to the toilet in the middle of the night. A significant correlation was found between lower limb joints' ROM at the time of discharge for stroke and the time from discharge to fracture. [Conclusion] The results suggest the possibility of identifying patients at high risk of femoral neck fracture from ROM of lower limb joints at the time of hospital discharge for stroke.