Medical Considerations in the Care of Elderly Patients with Hip Fractures

Abstract

IN SHARP contrast to the attitude of a few years back, hip nailing in aged people suffering from various medical disabilities has become accepted surgical practice. Penicillin, carefully controlled anesthesia, the use of blood and standard physiologic fluids, refinements of surgical technic and early ambulation have permitted feats of major surgery previously believed impossible, especially in the aged. In the cases of hip fracture, traction or a plaster spica was used by choice under the impression that operation was too great a risk in this age group. This attitude is now reversed, and nailing is performed to avoid the many . . .