Hip Fractures in Elderly

Most fractures around the hip joint in elderly patients are associated with Osteoporosis.
It may involve the femoral neck or the Inter-trochanteric region of proximal Femur.
Usually the impact of trauma is trivial; hence many consider these fractures to occur as a result of progressive weakening of the bone and the ultimate give way.
The treatment of such fractures in elderly population demands a lot of analysis in terms of ambulatory status, level of osteoporosis, co-morbid illnesses, activity level etc.
Although, it is always prudent to preserve the host bone, but in certain medical circumstances, the risk of keeping the patient in bed for prolonged duration , far outweighs the complication associated with prosthetic replacement.
Prolonged recumbency may lead to pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and bed sores. The morbidity with these secondary complications often becomes more disabling than the fracture itself.
The options between preserving the host bone must therefore be carefully assessed against the objective of making the patient mobile at the earliest possible.