Orthopedic Technology for the Elderly

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Abstract
The termorthopedicswas introduced in 1741 by Nicolas André in Paris for “the Art of Prevention and Correction of Deformities in Children” and for 200 years orthopedic institutions were mainly concerned with locomotor problems in children and young adults. After World War II, however, the majority of orthopedic patients were not children. Devas (6) has coined the expression “geriatric orthopedics”, a semantic contradiction which highlights that we now face an increasing volume of elderly patients in whom the locomotor system causes severe problems. For example, in my own institution an orthopedic wing built in 1928 contained 135 beds, the majority of which were occupied by children. Today 10 beds suffice for our orthopedic children. Half of all orthopedic beds in Sweden are used for hip surgery in the very old.