Ethans K D, MacKnight C
Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Postgrad Med. 1998 Jan;103(1):157-8, 163-4, 167-70. doi: 10.3810/pgm.1998.01.277.
The rising incidence of hip fractures in the elderly is a disturbing trend with serious health and socioeconomic consequences, including morbidity, loss of function, long-term institutionalization, and mortality. When preventive measures fail, the interdisciplinary healthcare team works together to provide operative treatment, reduce the risk of postoperative complications, and guide the patient through the recovery process. A team approach that ensures appropriate treatment, careful discharge planning, and coordinated rehabilitation can reduce the impact of the injury, speed recovery, and restore patient independence.
