TRAUMA IN THE ELDERLY

The increasing proportion of old and very old people in the population has increased the task of treatment in the field of surgery and its m ain points. The decreasing function of and changes to the skeleton cau sed by osteoporosis have led to a number of fractures. The fracture ne ar the hip joint is typical for this section of the population. 1180 p atients from the Jena surgical clinic/casualty were analysed; the aver age age was over 75 years and the most common cause of accident was a fall. A quick operative treatment is recommended. In comparison with t he risk factor of the ASA-classification 1.6% with factor I and 44.4% with factor IV died. Postoperative treatment is very important.