OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of the anabolic steroid nandrolone in elderly patients with hip fractures. DESIGN: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: The orthopedic ward of a university teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 29 frail elderly females with hip fractures. INTERVENTION: Subjects received nandrolone 2 mg/kg (n = 15) or placebo (n = 14) by weekly injection for 4 weeks or until discharge. MEASURES: Baseline functional status was assessed by the Lawton-Brody ADL and IADL. Hemoglobin, transferrin, thyroid-binding prealbumin, albumin, liver function tests, creatinine, weight, MAMC, bioelectric impedance, standard anthropometrics and grip strength were measured at baseline and weekly intervals. Rehabilitation parameters and length of stay were recorded. RESULTS: The placebo and nandrolone groups were similar in age, although the control group had slightly higher baseline ADL scores. There was no difference between groups in biochemical parameters, anthropometrics, body composition, grip strength, rehabilitation end points or length of stay. One subject in the nandrolone group had a doubling of AST and was withdrawn from the study. CONCLUSIONS:Nandrolone can be given safely to frail elderly subjects with hip fractures but is likely to be of minimal benefit at the doses we employed.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of the anabolic steroidnandrolone in elderly patients with hip fractures. DESIGN: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: The orthopedic ward of a university teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 29 frail elderly females with hip fractures. INTERVENTION: Subjects received nandrolone 2 mg/kg (n = 15) or placebo (n = 14) by weekly injection for 4 weeks or until discharge. MEASURES: Baseline functional status was assessed by the Lawton-Brody ADL and IADL. Hemoglobin, transferrin, thyroid-binding prealbumin, albumin, liver function tests, creatinine, weight, MAMC, bioelectric impedance, standard anthropometrics and grip strength were measured at baseline and weekly intervals. Rehabilitation parameters and length of stay were recorded. RESULTS: The placebo and nandrolone groups were similar in age, although the control group had slightly higher baseline ADL scores. There was no difference between groups in biochemical parameters, anthropometrics, body composition, grip strength, rehabilitation end points or length of stay. One subject in the nandrolone group had a doubling of AST and was withdrawn from the study. CONCLUSIONS:Nandrolone can be given safely to frail elderly subjects with hip fractures but is likely to be of minimal benefit at the doses we employed.
Authors: Alexander E Weber; Matthew C Gallo; Ioanna K Bolia; Emmett J Cleary; Todd E Schroeder; George F Rick Hatch Journal: J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev Date: 2022-01-04
Authors: Lauren A Beaupre; Ellen F Binder; Ian D Cameron; C Allyson Jones; Denise Orwig; Cathie Sherrington; Jay Magaziner Journal: Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol Date: 2013-12 Impact factor: 4.098