CURRENT ISSUES CONCERNING FRACTURE TREATM ENT IN ELDERLY PATIENTS

According to demographic studies in Germany about 95 000 proximal femu r fractures (PFF) in patients aged over 65 will occur in the year 2030 ; that means around 40% more than in 1995 (n = 68 233). These injuries lead to very high socio-economic costs and only PFF therapy with a ra pid full-recovery could be a useful solution. At present PFF treatment consists mainly of operative osteosynthesis with a mortality rate of only 4% (own study of 100 patients). Tn contrast, the long-term effici ency of PFF therapy is poor because statistically nearly every second patient requires partial or full-time help. Clearly postoperative trai ning is, as yet, insufficient. But only a complete PFF therapy (operat ion and intensive postoperative physiotherapy, ergotherapy and geriatr ies) can improve the long-term results, thereby reducing costs and soc ial problems which would otherwise only worsen in the future.