THE TREATMENT OF GERIATRIC HIP-FRACTURES

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 preve nting the life-threatening complications of pulmonary emboli and pneum onia related to recumbency. Next, treatment failures may occur as mobi lization 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 cont ributed to the fracture. Finally, complications related to the Fractur e itself may arise, such as femoral head osteonecrosis or fracture non union. The likelihood and the effect of these complications must be we ighed when determining the belt treatment for patients whose activity level and life span are frequently limited.