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Suggest Treatment For Fracture Of Femur In Old Age
Question: Dear Doctor, yesterday my mother is 82 and suffered a fracture of the neck of her femur bone. It seems to have just snapped of its own accord. Her red cell blood count is very low and she suffers from dehydration. She has been suffering from severe hip pain for a few months but General Practitioners are busy professionals and antibiotics seemed to be the preferred option for her condition.
The operation will take place tomorrow to place a metal pin in the bone. The doctors asked if my mother wished to see a priest, so I am a bit concerned about the prospects of recovery. I have to get flight connections to XXXXXXX from France tomorrow, so if you have a bit of professional general advice on the general pattern of recovery for people of this age, I would be most grateful.
For my own part, I have suffered from constant nagging pain in the left hip for a couple of years until a young XXXXXXX doctor on a professional trip to France advised that I may be suffering from bursitis. Hearing this, I re-started exercise and found the symptom disappeared for over 18 months. The sensation now returning from time to time but not serious and disappear when I get on my bicycle to do exercise. I was recently told following a scan of my back that my bone density was a bit low and I am now taking calcium supplement. Question: at 62, should I be reducing my 17miles a day bicycle rides and cutting down on exercise or can I build up my bone density or at least maintain some integrity as I get older?
The operation will take place tomorrow to place a metal pin in the bone. The doctors asked if my mother wished to see a priest, so I am a bit concerned about the prospects of recovery. I have to get flight connections to XXXXXXX from France tomorrow, so if you have a bit of professional general advice on the general pattern of recovery for people of this age, I would be most grateful.
For my own part, I have suffered from constant nagging pain in the left hip for a couple of years until a young XXXXXXX doctor on a professional trip to France advised that I may be suffering from bursitis. Hearing this, I re-started exercise and found the symptom disappeared for over 18 months. The sensation now returning from time to time but not serious and disappear when I get on my bicycle to do exercise. I was recently told following a scan of my back that my bone density was a bit low and I am now taking calcium supplement. Question: at 62, should I be reducing my 17miles a day bicycle rides and cutting down on exercise or can I build up my bone density or at least maintain some integrity as I get older?
Brief Answer:
At age of 82 with fracture femur its better to do hip hemiarthroplasty with
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for writing to us,
I have studied your case with diligence.
At age of 82 with fracture femur its better to do hip hemiarthroplasty with bipolar prosthesis.
As she has low RBC she can be transfused with PCV [blood] before surgery.
Pin fixation may lead to delayed union or non union due to old age.
There is very less possibility of fracture neck femur to unite non surgically.
Yes this surgery can have life risk due to old age, anaesthesia tolerance and blood loss.
Non weight bearing for few weeks is very important .And physiotherapy in form of CPM [continuous passive motion] can be started later.
For you
Yes you should reduce bicycle to half distance to avoid early degeneration.
Do more stretches and static exercises.
Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.
Wishing you good health.
Take care.
At age of 82 with fracture femur its better to do hip hemiarthroplasty with
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for writing to us,
I have studied your case with diligence.
At age of 82 with fracture femur its better to do hip hemiarthroplasty with bipolar prosthesis.
As she has low RBC she can be transfused with PCV [blood] before surgery.
Pin fixation may lead to delayed union or non union due to old age.
There is very less possibility of fracture neck femur to unite non surgically.
Yes this surgery can have life risk due to old age, anaesthesia tolerance and blood loss.
Non weight bearing for few weeks is very important .And physiotherapy in form of CPM [continuous passive motion] can be started later.
For you
Yes you should reduce bicycle to half distance to avoid early degeneration.
Do more stretches and static exercises.
Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.
Wishing you good health.
Take care.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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