This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Prevention of complications remains key in care of geriatric patients with hip, acetabulum fractures
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
PHILADELPHIA — In a presentation here, Ivan S. Tarkin, MD, noted the importance of considering options for patient care and the prevention of complications in the treatment of geriatric patients with fractures of the hip and acetabulum.
“You have to individualize the care for these patients,” Tarkin said during his presentation at the Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society Fall Scientific Meeting. “The stakes are high, so choose wisely.”
Tarkin highlighted several key factors to prevent complications, such as promoting mobilization and functionality, pain control and achieving a stable hip that will support ambulation.
“Probably the biggest one, at least in my mind, is [to] decrease the incidence of systemic complications, including death,” Tarkin said.
When considering options for patient care, Tarkin noted surgeons should consider the patient’s physiological age, daily activity and bone quality.
“Understand what bone there is to work with and how you could potentially manipulate their skeleton,” he said.
Tarkin added it is also important to know the number of medical comorbidities a patient has prior to surgery, which will “play into how much treatment they can tolerate,” and any injury factors. With an optimum prognosis, he noted that there are a number of treatment options available for these patients. — by Casey Tingle
Reference:
Tarkin IS. Geriatric fractures of the hip and acetabulum. Presented at: Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society Fall Scientific Meeting; Oct. 15-16, 2015; Philadelphia.
Disclosure: Tarkin reports that he received research support from the Pittsburgh Foundation, Synthes and Zimmer, and is a paid presenter or speaker for Synthes and Zimmer.