My 76 year old mother on vacation in Costa Rica has broken her hip. She is relatively healthy but does have arthritis. She came thru the surgery fine and they say she should be up with a walker tomorrow--but i know that broken hips are very bad and I'm wondering how long people live after they break their hip--What kinds of complications are there?
Should I fly to Costa Rica or wait like dad is saying to visit when they are able to get home?
2006-08-18 06:31:32 · 8 answers · asked by creative rae 4 in Health ➔ Other - Health
"Wondering" has stated things very well. The prognosis is somewhat better today than it was 50 yrs. ago; however it was and still is a devastating injury especially in an elderly person. It's more risky than having a hip replacement because a sudden trauma is involved in a fracture. Hip replacement is elective surgery and patients are screened beforehand to make sure they have a certain level of health and are good surgical candidates. Fracture patients don't have that luxury - the surgery is done on an emergency basis. On the positive side, the use of blood-thinning medications and other anti-embolic measures (there are several possibilities here ranging from TED stockings to aspirin therapy, Coumadin, Lovenox, etc.) to reduce the risk of pulmonary embolism which is what kills a lot of elderly hip fracture victims. This same risk exists for anyone who has any kind of hip or knee surgery and it is the use of anti-embolic measures plus the practice of getting the patient out of bed and moving around ASAP after surgery (I had my hips replaced and they had me out of bed walking within 12 hours) that has made such surgery reasonably safe.
In short, bed-ridden is very bad. Since you say she will be out of bed soon, that is a good sign. I can't speak to whether you should go to Costa Rica, that is a very personal decision. Perhaps some kind of estimate as to how long before she can travel would influence your decision. If it's going to be a long time, I would think that might influence your decision to go see her. If she's coming home next week - then you might be able to wait.
2006-08-18 07:08:13 · answer #1 · answered by Kraftee 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1
2016-05-07 19:32:59 · answer #2 · answered by Oscar 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About a quarter of a million people will fracture their hip every year, and the mortality rate when measured one year after the break is about 25%. Even after repair of the hip, many people will not be able to regain their pre-fracture walking ability (about 40% will). The good news is that she got her surgery done quckly, and is already getting up and around. She will likely need calcium supplementation and probably a medication like a bisphosphonate that will help make her bones stronger. Complications of fractures usually revolve around the actual break and surgery, and are many and varied. Patients may have prolonged bed rest and develop weakness due to inactivity or ulcers due to unrelieved pressure on certain part of their body from lack of movement. Also, prolonged immobility can put people at risk for clot formation, which can be very bad if the clot dislodges and moves to the lungs. Longer term, she will likely be unstable, making another fracture a distinct possibility. Its probably safe and appropriate for you to wait for her to get home, since it sounds like she's over a lot of the bad stuff, and just has a long recovery ahead of her.
2006-08-18 06:44:33 · answer #3 · answered by Wondering 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
about one million / 4 of one million people will fracture their hip each and every 12 months, and the mortality fee even as measured one 12 months after the vacation is about 25%. Even after restore of the hip, many people might want to not be able of regain their pre-fracture operating ability (about 40% will). The properly recommendations is that she offered her surgical treatment carried out quckly, and is already getting up and round. she will be able of maximum in all probability choose calcium supplementation and maximum in all probability a treatment like a bisphosphonate in an attempt to help make her bones more beneficial powerful. complications of fractures oftentimes revolve in the course of the particular vacation and surgical treatment, and are many and varied. sufferers may have lengthy mattress relax and expand weak spot hence of inactiveness or ulcers hence of unrelieved rigidity on different edge of their body from lack of action. also, lengthy immobility can placed people at danger for clot formation, which is often very undesirable if the clot dislodges and moves to the lungs. Longer time period, she might want to be risky, making an additional beneficial fracture a concentrated probability. Its maximum in all probability solid and perfect for you to seem ahead to her to get abode, on condition that it type of feels like she's over a large number of the undesirable stuff, and easily has a protracted restoration prior to her.
2016-11-05 02:37:15 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bad news...
Studies say about 50% of seniors who break hips will pass away in the first year (whether from complications or totally unrelated causes). Another 25% survive, but never regain the level of function they had before the break.
Only 25% return to normal after a hip break.
She is not in any immediate danger, though. You can wait to see her. I hope your mom is one of the lucky 25%!
~Bryan, Pharm D
2006-08-18 06:41:47 · answer #5 · answered by lonelycrow 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
She should live out her full life expectancy now that the surgery is successful.
2006-08-18 06:36:13 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
People don't normally die from this. Maybe from pneumonia or something if they don't do their therapy and stuff. I am a nurse.
2006-08-18 06:39:08 · answer #7 · answered by Jessie K 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
DONT WORRY .SURV.RATES RATES R GOOD
2006-08-18 06:37:08 · answer #8 · answered by doctor asho 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋