Patient Overview
Following a motor vehicle collision, a patient was admitted with multiple traumatic injuries:
- Left Pneumothorax
- Right Abdominal Wall Hematoma
- Right Coccyx Hematoma
- Left Neck Subcutaneous Hematoma
- Retrosternal Hematoma
- Anterior Sternal Fracture
- Left 1st Rib Fracture
- Left 2nd Rib Fracture: Mildly displaced
- L5 Transverse Process Fracture
- S3 Transverse Process Fracture
- Bilateral Sacral Fractures
- Left Anterior Iliac Bone Fracture
- Left 2nd Metacarpal Fracture
- Right Calcaneus Fracture
- Right Medial Malleolus Fracture
Mobility Intervention
On hospital day 6, Verticalization Therapy was initiated using The Catalyst as part of the patient’s early mobility program.
To accommodate weight-bearing restrictions, the patient began weight-bearing through the left leg while safely offloading the right leg. Nursing staff performed verticalization sessions throughout the weekend, helping the patient tolerate upright positioning and maintain strength.
Outcomes
By the following week, the patient demonstrated improved strength, reduced pain limitations, and increased tolerance to upright activity without experiencing orthostatic hypotension.
Over the course of the 16-day hospitalization, the patient progressed from bedbound status to ambulating more than 200 feet with a platform walker and requiring only minimal assistance with transfers and activities of daily living.
This functional improvement was reflected in the patient’s AM-PAC mobility score. The patient was admitted with an AM-PAC score of 6 and remained significantly mobility-limited with a score of 8 when Verticalization Therapy was initiated on hospital day 6. Following the introduction of in-bed verticalization using the Catalyst®, the patient’s mobility continued to improve, reaching an AM-PAC score of 17 by discharge.
As illustrated below, the patient’s mobility trajectory accelerated following the initiation of Verticalization Therapy, supporting progression from bedbound status to functional ambulation within the acute care stay.
Clinical Considerations
Patients with multi-system traumatic injuries often experience prolonged immobility due to fracture burden, pain, and medical complexity, which can contribute to deconditioning and delayed recovery.
This case highlights how early, structured Verticalization Therapy using The Catalyst may be integrated into a comprehensive mobility program to support earlier functional engagement and progression in patients with complex traumatic injuries.