Medical management

Abstract

Hip fractures are a common occurrence, especially in the elderly population, and usually occur after a fall. Consequences of hip fractures are significant and have an impact on overall mortality, quality of life, and cognitive function. Patients who experience hip fractures are usually intermediate- to high-risk surgical candidates, and care should be taken to optimize their underlying medical conditions in the perioperative period. This should, however, not lead to inordinate delay in surgical repair, since outcomes are worse when surgery is delayed. Complications are common after hip fracture surgery and include venous thromboembolism, infections, pressure sores, and delirium. Patients should be carefully observed in the perioperative period, and a high index of suspicion for these complications should be maintained since the elderly might not exhibit the classical signs of such disease processes. Early rehabilitation and nutritional support are instrumental in attaining good functional recovery and preventing recurrent fractures.