What Makes Hip Fractures So Dangerous for the Elderly?

A hip fracture is a very serious diagnosis, especially for the older demographic. A lot of people are hospitalized due to hip fractures on a yearly basis. Most of these patients are elderly, and a lot of them have a very hard time trying to regain their independence while recovering from the hip fracture. In several studies, the 1-year mortality rate was 20%, for elderly hip fracture patients. 

Why do some of these structures cause death and why does that happen a lot among the elderly? You can always schedule a consultation with your doctor or simply visit MOATI, instead. 

Lower bone density

Our bone density as well as muscle mass will decreases with age. One of the most common conditions is osteoporosis, which can cause our bones to become weak and brittle, which makes hip fractures a lot more common after a fall. 

Other medical conditions 

Young and healthy individuals are less likely to have a serious issue even if they suffer a hip fracture… it is also less likely that they will suffer one at all. However, there are a lot of preexisting medical conditions that could increase the probability of getting a broken hip and where the recovery could be a lot more complicated. 

• Diabetes – both type 1 and 2 diabetes are known to reduce the density of our bone, meaning that the recovery process will be a lot more complicated.
• Neurological impairment – patients who suffer from conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease, or a stroke, often have issues with balance. Thus, are more likely to fall and break their hip.
• Intestinal issues – these issues can limit your ability to absorb nutrients that are essential for weekend bones, such as vitamin D and calcium.
• Heart attack – those who have suffered from a heart attack will have a difficulty when it comes to production of clotting agents that are necessary for a fracture to heal properly. 

Risk of complications

One of the main reasons elderly patients die from hip fractures is the fact that the surgery complications are much higher. The trauma of the accident can be hard on the health of the patient. During the recovery time, a hip fracture can immobilize the patient for a long time, leading to blood clots and decreased muscle mass… causing complications that can contribute to high death rates.

It is important that you listen to your doctor’s orders. Hip arthroscopy is a surgical procedure that allows your doctor to view our hop joint without making a huge incision, which is necessary to be done before a hip surgery. Make sure to talk to your doctor!

Final word

It is important that you understand that a hip fracture, no matter the age, is something that should be taken seriously. Make sure to talk to your doctor about everything that you do not understand about the risks during the surgery.