EPIDEMIOLOGY AND TREATMENT OF FRACTURES I N THE ELDERLY

The frequency of fractures in the elderly has risen dramatically and w ill increase further in the future. This is partly a socio-economic pr oblem and is familiar both to surgeons and to the general population. Fractures in such patients have clinical and pathomechanical implicati ons, with unassociated conditions needing treatment. It is necessary t o standardize treatment, including operative procedures, which can be performed in every hospital. The therapeutic measures available involv e close cooperation between the surgeon, the geriatrician and ancillar y workers. For some fractures in the elderly there are already operati ve procedures that ensure efficient rehabilitation and reintegration i nto society. Osteoporosis can make osteosynthesis problematic. Radiolo gical measurements of bone density are of diagnostic rather than thera peutic value. Operative procedures and their effectiveness in common f ractures in the elderly (hip, distal radius, shoulder) are discussed. It is stated that surgical treatment is very important in mastering th is challenge, but other aspects, particularly ethical considerations, are paramount.