The Treatment of Geriatric Hip Fractures

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The need to treat patients over 60 years of age with proximal femoral fractures (intertrochanteric or neck) is becoming more frequent as the population ages. Most of the associated complications are related to the age of the patient. Immediate consideration must be given to preventing the life-threatening complications of pulmonary emboli and pneumonia related to recumbency. Next, treatment failures may occur as mobilization and weight bearing begin. Most of these failures are related to either surgical technique or the same neuromusculoskeletal problems of osteoporosis and loss of balance and coordination that likely contributed to the fracture. Finally, complications related to the fracture itself may arise, such as femoral head osteonecrosis or fracture nonunion. The likelihood and the effect of these complications must be weighted when determining the best treatment for patients whose activity level and life span are frequently limited.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: