Inter-rater reliability of affected-side weight bearing ratio measurement in postoperative patients with proximal femoral fractures

Purpose We examined the inter-rater reliability of the affected-side weight-bearing ratio in patients who have undergone proximal femoral fracture surgery. Participants and Methods Ten patients with hip fractures were included in this study. Weight-bearing ratios were measured five times daily on postoperative days 3, 5, and 7. Three physical therapists independently assessed the patients. Results High intra-class correlation coefficients were observed across all days and measurement trials. The coefficient of variation (CV) showed no significant difference between days. CV was negatively associated with weight-bearing ratio but was not influenced by pain, body-mass index, age, sex, or surgical procedure. Conclusion In patients with proximal femoral hip fractures, weight-bearing ratio measurements on the affected side demonstrated high inter-rater reliability, even in a single trial from postoperative day 3. Pain during weight-bearing may contribute to variability in measurements, particularly in patients with low weight-bearing ratios. This method is feasible, minimally burdensome, and can be implemented in various rehabilitation environments without the need for specialized equipment. Future studies should examine its generalizability across multiple facilities and assess its reliability in patients with cognitive impairment.