Ms Cheng is 80 years old and needs a cane to help walking. One day she fell by accident. She hurt her left leg and couldn’t walk owing to the severe pain. Ms Cheng was sent to hospital and her injury was diagnosed as a femur fracture. Her Doctor suggested surgical treatment yet Ms Cheng’s family was reluctant, given her old age and her diabetic and high blood pressure history.
Many people question surgical treatment for the elderly but in doing so they overlook the problems associated with non-surgical treatments. Femur fracture is common among the elderly people with osteoporosis. The fractured area cannot be cast and fixed like other fractures and patients cannot walk, as one slight move can trigger serious pain. Even sitting on bed is a challenge and lying down is the only real rest option. However, bed-bound causes complications like pneumonia, pressure sores, cystitis, urethra infection, vein thrombosis, stiff joints and muscular atrophy – which are difficult to treat and can be lethal. More importantly, should blood transmission to the femur head be blocked by the fracture, non-surgical treatment will not help long-term union.
In this case, internal fixation and joint replacement surgery is the most effective option. Surgical treatment can effectively reduce pain and, after surgery, patients can normally start learning to walk after one to two days, thus avoiding long-term bed-rest. Unless other serious and non-manageable medical issues persist, cardio patients and diabetics in stable condition can undergo surgery. They will normally recover within two to three months.