Dexmedetomidine for Prevention of Delirium After Hip Fracture Surgery

NCT07867899 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: 45026092
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 242
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Postoperative delirium is common after hip fracture surgery and is associated with delayed recovery and serious postoperative complications. Patients with hip fracture are often elderly, acutely admitted, in pain, and have multiple comorbidities, all of which increase the risk of delirium. This study evaluates whether implementation of intraoperative dexmedetomidine prophylaxis reduces postoperative delirium in patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. The study will compare patients treated before and after implementation of dexmedetomidine prophylaxis.

Conditions

Delirium - Postoperative; Delirium Prevention; Dexmedetomidine; Dexmedetomidine Infusion

Keywords

Hip fracture; Surgery; Postoperative; Dexmedetomidine; Delirium prevention; Pre-post intervention; Geriatric anesthesia

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Any postoperative delirium within the first 3 days after surgery

  The proportion of patients with at least one positive CAM-score on postoperative day 1-3 (yes/no).

  Postoperative day 1-3

Secondary Outcomes (9)

• Any postoperative delirium within the first 7 days after surgery

  Postoperative day 1-7

• Maximum severity of postoperative delirium

  Postoperative day 1-7

• Postoperative pain in the PACU

  PACU stay

• Postoperative opioid use in the PACU

  PACU stay

• Need for antipsychotic medication

  Postoperative day 1-7

Study Arms (2)

Pre-implementation

Patients undergoing hip fracture surgery before implementation of intraoperative dexmedetomidine prophylaxis.

Post-implementation / Dexmedetomidine prophylaxis

Patients undergoing hip fracture surgery after implementation of intraoperative dexmedetomidine prophylaxis. Dexmedetomidine prophylaxis is initiated after induction of general anesthesia or after spinal anesthesia has been established. Patients receive dexmedetomidine bolus 0.5 µg/kg ideal body weight followed by infusion 0.5 µg/kg/hour. The infusion is discontinued at the end of surgery.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Study participants will be selected from patients undergoing surgery for hip fracture at the Department of Orthopedics, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. The study population will include patients aged 65 years or older undergoing operative treatment in either general or spinal anesthesia. Patients will be identified consecutively during the predefined pre-implementation and post-implementation study periods. In the post-implementation period, eligible patients will receive perioperative dexmedetomidine prophylaxis unless contraindications or other clinical reasons for omission are present. Patients with severe liver failure, acute neurological conditions, or second- or third-degree atrioventricular block without a pacemaker will not receive dexmedetomidine

You may qualify if:

• Patients at least 65 years of age undergoing surgery for hip fracture in general or spinal anesthesia
• Treated during the defined pre- or post-implementation period

You may not qualify if:

• Known hypersensitivity to dexmedetomidine
• Second- or third-degree AV block without pacemaker
• Acute cerebral conditions with potentially impaired cerebral autoregulation
• Acute or chronic liver failure

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Peter Gaarsdal Uhrbrand: lead

Study Sites (1)

Department of Anesthesiology, Aarhus University Hospital

Aarhus, 8200, Denmark

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Emergence Delirium; Hip Fractures

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Delirium; Confusion; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Postoperative Complications; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders; Femoral Fractures; Fractures, Bone; Wounds and Injuries; Hip Injuries; Leg Injuries

Central Study Contacts

Peter G. Uhrbrand, MD, PhD

CONTACT

+4530615082; petuhr@rm.dk

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal and sponsor-investigator, MD, PhD

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 23, 2026
• First Posted: October 9, 2026
• Study Start: October 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 14, 2027
• Last Updated: October 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

DK (1)