[Treatment and outcome of fractures around the knee in the older patients]

Abstract

From the age of 50 the risk of fracture during the remaining years of life is estimated to be 40% in women and 20% men. The management of a fracture in the elderly is complex for several reasons, including decreased bone strength, a frequent association with previous joint replacement surgery or another orthopaedic implant, a high risk for anesthesia, difficulty in following postoperative recommendations, and an increased postoperative mortality. This article offers a review of fractures around the knee: distal femur, proximal tibia, patella and periprosthetic fractures. The vast majority of these fractures are treated surgically. When surgery is indicated, treatment should be initiated as soon as possible according to the patient's general condition in order to minimize the risk of complications and deconditioning.