fMRI Connectivity in Fracture Hip Patients

Functional Connectivity (With fMRI) as an Objective Measure of Postoperative Cognitive Function in Elderly Fracture Hip Patients

The long-term goal of this study is to evaluate cognitive function preoperatively and develop techniques of intervention in the perioperative period which would optimize brain function and functional recovery following surgery.

In this protocol, subjects who are anticipated to be operated for hip fracture will be studied after surgery. Brief cognitive exam will be done followed by fMRI of connectivity and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Connectivity (neuronal changes) and DTI (Anisotropy and mean diffusivity) data will be compared with age matched controls and correlated with subjective measures of cognition.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients 65 years and older
• Patients who have fracture hip and are anticipated to have surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who have contraindications for MRI like pacemaker, automatic implanted cardiac defibrillator (AICD), implanted infusion pumps etc.
• Patients who are claustrophobic
• Patients with severe cognitive impairment (who may not be able to cooperate during the cognitive exam and fMRI)