Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Associate Professor and Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs Clay Spitler, M.D., alongside Residents Matthew Hess, M.D., and David Patch,M.D., were awarded a grant through the Foundation for Orthopaedic Trauma (FOT).

The grant will fund the upcoming trial study that examines the use of blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy in the geriatric patient population who are recovering from surgical treatment of hip fractures. The therapy will be administered in the first two weeks of post-surgical recovery.

Blood flow restriction therapy for these patients, in particular, has never before been examined and UAB is the first institution to use BFR therapy to try and improve the functional outcomes and recovery of patients in this population. The research project was only one of five selected in the nation.

Spitler is proud to serve as principal investigator on this one-year grant.

“We’re grateful to the Foundation for Orthoapedic Trauma for selecting our research project so that we might continue to improve recovery for our patients with hip fractures,” said Spitler. “It’s more important than ever, especially for our geriatric patient population, to shorten recovery time and improve their healing ability after surgery.”