We live longer and, fortunately, better. But the increase in life expectancy also brings some . And it is that, the more years of life, the more diseases directly related to age increase.
Among them, the osteoporosis. A generalized skeletal disorder characterized by a reduction in bone density that results in impaired bone strength and quality and increases the risk of fractures.
These types of fractures are called fragility fractures or osteoporotic fractures
As explained by the physician from the Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology service at Hospital La Luz, Doctor Oscar Perez Simancawithin this group of fractures are the proximal femur fractures or hip fractureswhich represent a significant health problem due to the morbidity and mortality and functional dependence that occurs after the injury.
Main Risk Factors
As Dr. Simanca explains:
“The main risk factors for presenting this type of injury are all those situations that imply a loss of bone consistency and situations that increase the risk of falls for patients.”
-
The advanced age.
-
sedentary lifestyle
-
Previous osteoporotic fractures.
-
Early menopause.
-
Diseases that can cause osteopenia or osteoporosis.
hip fractures are more common in females representing around the 75% of cases.
And as Dr. Simanca states: “most cases occur due to low-energy trauma after a fall in an elderly patient with bone fragility due to osteoporosis.”
Hip fracture and mortality
As we have already seen, this type of fracture is very common, and specialists are more than used to intervening and solving them.
The problem is that type of injury is in some cases a turning point in the life expectancy of patients.
So much so that according to the specialist in traumatology at Hospital La Luz, about 8% of patients die within 30 days and 20% do so in the first year.
In fact, the Mortality rate in these patients is almost double when compared to patients of the same agebut without fracture.
And specialists point out that cardiovascular and respiratory problems are the main causes of deaths that occur in the first month after the injury.
Functional problems after hip surgery
Patients with hip fractures require in most cases hospital admission and surgical treatment.
Approximately 97% of patients with hip rupture undergo surgery. And this intervention normally causes difficulties in the daily development of the patient.
-
«Functional alterations after injury can range from inability to carry out an independent activity per day, going through limitations of ambulation independently until permanent disability”, says Oscar Pérez Simanca.
Therefore, it is essential to know what are the factors that influence functional recovery after suffering a hip fracture.
-
«The factors with the worst prognosis are very advanced age, reduced mobility and the time before the fracture.
-
Delay in surgical treatment
-
Presence of ulcers due to pressure during hospitalization, among others.
And, on the contrary, the factors associated with less functional deterioration are early surgical treatment, early mobilization of the patient and sitting position, which, as the doctor explains, is the position in which the human being maintains verticality at through the support of your pelvis on the base of support, total or partial.
The increase in life expectancy in Spain has brought with it a most cases of hip fracture for fragility. «And despite the experience in the orthogeriatric management of these patients, it continues to be a health problem with a high annual cost, so it is necessary to identify and act on modifiable risk factors to help recover the independence of these patients”.