Benefit from a geriatric hip fracture program designed to minimize pain and recovery time.
Hip fractures are the second-leading cause of hospitalizations in the elderly. Complications can set in if the injury isn’t handled with skill and efficiency. These patients represent a special subset of patients with unique characteristics such as increased sensitivity to pain medication, increased fall risk and osteoporosis. Our program has clear, established goals to address these issues and includes protocols to avoid delirium, education on fall prevention and post-discharge follow-up for osteoporosis. In addition, our physicians evaluate the patient quickly and perform surgery as soon as possible (usually within 24 hours) to reduce potential complications from this injury. The protocols we adhere to both before and after surgery are designed to promote the fastest recovery possible.
Procedures
Hip fracture surgery
During the procedure, the patient’s hip may be held together with metal screws — possibly with a metal rod as well — to aid in healing. If the bone is broken in such a way that it cannot be aligned properly, a metal replacement may also be used for the femur. This is known as a partial hip replacement. If the socket and the pelvic bone are beyond repair and have been affected by arthritis, a total hip replacement may be performed.
Rehabilitation and Education
As soon as the patient is stable, our physical and occupational therapy team will begin the rehabilitation process. The team instructs patients and their families on the goals of rehabilitation and gives them exercises and guidelines for activity. The team also educates them on how to prepare the home for the patient’s return and explains precautions they should take to avoid falls both during the rehabilitation phase and in the future.