According to BS.CKII Pham Van Nhat, Deputy Head of the Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics, An Binh Hospital, treating fractures in the elderly is always a "difficult problem". Poor bone quality makes bones prone to multiple fractures, causing difficulties in the process of adjustment and fixation. In addition, severe soft tissue damage and underlying diseases such as hypertension, diabetes or Cushing's syndrome also increase the risk of complications during and after surgery.
For example, two typical cases that have just been treated show the complexity of injury in the elderly. The first case of suffering from "Terrible Triad" in the elbow, including perilla fracture, radius fracture with dislocation. To restore joint function, the surgical team performed bone grafting with screws, Kirschner needles (a type of small needle, usually made of stainless steel, used to fix broken bones or maintain joint stability during recovery) and stitched ligaments to restore strength to the elbow joint.
The second case is more complex with open fractures of the elbow and forearm. Doctors apply a "two-stage surgery" strategy. In the first half, the patient is cut off the lesions and temporarily fixed to limit infection. Then, in the second half, doctors perform bone grafting with screws and Kirschner needles to restore surgery and stabilize the joint.
Positive treatment results were recorded. Only about two weeks after surgery, both patients had good healing surgical wounds, restoring most of the joint range of the elbow. This is considered a remarkable success in treating complex injuries in the elderly.
According to experts, multi-specialized coordination also helps reduce the risk of complications, improve motor recovery ability and limit the risk of disability in the elderly.
Doctors recommend that elderly people when injured need to go to medical facilities early for diagnosis and timely treatment. Intervention at the right time not only helps restore function but also contributes to improving the quality of life for patients.
