Remote ischaemic conditioning to reduce post-surgical complications after hip fracture

Remote Ischaemic Conditioning for Post-surgical Complications in Hip Fracture (RIC-FRACTURE)

This tests whether brief cycles of blood-pressure-cuff inflation on an arm or leg can help people with recent hip fractures have fewer complications after their surgery.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 12 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Sheffield, South Yorkshire)
• Trial ID: NCT07178041 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This single-centre, single-arm feasibility study will recruit up to 12 adults with X-ray or CT-confirmed hip fracture to receive remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC) during their inpatient recovery. RIC involves repeated inflation of a cuff on an arm or leg to temporarily stop blood flow for short, safe periods intended to trigger protective biological responses. Participants will receive 40 minutes of RIC each day for up to 10 days or until discharge (within roughly two weeks), with investigators recording feasibility, safety, adherence and clinical complication outcomes. The data will be used to judge practicality and safety of delivering RIC after hip fracture and to inform the design of larger trials.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18 or older with an X-ray or CT-confirmed hip fracture within the past 7 days who can give informed consent and are judged able to follow the protocol are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People with significant peripheral vascular disease, limb lymphoedema, skin ulceration, uncontrolled cardiac conditions, or acute thromboembolic events are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, it could lower post-surgical complications and improve recovery after hip fracture using a simple, low-cost bedside therapy.

How similar studies have performed: Remote ischaemic conditioning has shown promise in animal work and some cardiac clinical settings, but its use to reduce complications after hip fracture remains largely untested in clinical trials.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults (aged \> 18 years)
* Participant has had a hip fracture identified on X-ray or computed tomography (CT) scan.
* Qualifying hip fracture has not occurred more than 7 days prior to enrollment.
* Able to give written informed consent.
* In the opinion of the treating physician would be able to conform to the study protocol and procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

* History or presence of significant peripheral vascular disease in the limb conditioned.
* History or presence of complex neuropathic pains or peripheral neuropathy in the limb conditioned.
* Presence of lymphoedema in the limb conditioned.
* Presence of skin ulceration to the limb conditioned.
* Uncontrolled arrhythmia, hypertension, diabetes or angina.
* Third degree heart block or progressive heart failure.
* Acute aortic dissection, myocarditis, or pericarditis.
* Acute deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism.
* Suspected or known dissecting aneurysm.
* Stroke or TIA myocardial infarction in the last 4 weeks.

Where this trial is running

Sheffield, South Yorkshire

• Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust — Sheffield, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Ali Ali — Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Study coordinator: Sarah Wilkinson

Conditions: Hip Fracture, Remote ischaemic conditioning