A Pilot Study of Anabolic Steroids in Elderly Patients With Hip Fractures

Abstract

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 One subject in the nandrolone group had a doubling of AST and was withdrawn from the study.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.