New Delhi: With increased global aging, fragility fractures in elderly patients have increased significantly, making it a significant issue in healthcare. These fractures, especially in the proximal femur due to low energy mechanisms such as falls, depict the frailty of bones that are weakened by osteoporosis and other co-morbidities. Caring for elderly patients with orthopaedic trauma is a challenge due to medical, and social issues, and more.
In an interaction with News9Live, Dr Kishore Kumar Panda, Consultant Orthopaedic, Manipal Hospital Bhubaneswar, spoke about the common challenges involved in the treatment of orthopaedic trauma in the elderly.
Key Challenges
Complex Medical Profiles: Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are common comorbidities co-existing with elderly patients. These conditions make it more challenging to operate on patients and increase the time taken to fully recuperate, requiring a collaborative healthcare model.
Increased Surgical Risk: Some of the fragility fractures are surgical emergencies such as hip and vertebral fractures. However, advanced age is considered a risk factor for the occurrence of perioperative complications including infections, formation of thromboembolism, and slow wound healing.
Bone Quality and Healing: Osteoporosis highly reduces the bones’ density or mass and the rate at which the bones can heal or repair themselves. Despite having a surgical intervention in place, patients are still prone to re-fracture or failure of the implanted device because of the high stress that their bone undergoes, and therefore require special methods of fixation and other drug therapies like bisphosphonate therapy.
Functional and Psychological Decline: However, fragility fractures do not only have a longer-term impact on the musculoskeletal system but also have debilitating effects on the patient’s quality of life by causing loss of independence and mobility. This is because bed rest leads to complications like pneumonia and pressure ulcers; in addition, psychological factors like depression and fear of falling will also slow down recovery.
Rehabilitation and Social Support: Inclusive reintegration is essential, but available specialised physiotherapy and social organisations remain scarce for elderly patients. There are also other factors like caregivers’ availability and patients’ socioeconomic status that determine outcomes of recovery.
The Way Forward
Fragility fractures in the elderly can be prevented, early and prompt surgical intervention provided, and optimum post-fracture care delivered. Interventions that are supported by public health activities such as disability of the bones, falls, and effective rehabilitation can change the course of the elderly patient’s life, giving them the ability to walk again or do things they previously enjoyed.
Some of the fragility fractures are surgical emergencies such as hip and vertebral fractures. However, advanced age is considered a risk factor for the occurrence of perioperative complications including infections, formation of thromboembolism, and slow wound healing. Health Conditions Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
