Post-operative Management

Excerpt

The management of hip fracture in older people in the post-operative setting requires a multidisciplinary approach and geriatric competencies. The main goals of the post-operative stage are early mobilisation and prevention of complications. To achieve the goal of early mobilisation a stable surgical repair is essential, allowing the patient to bear weight as tolerated, as well as effective pain control and fluid management protocols, ensuring an adequate volume and avoiding orthostatic hypotension. Due to the age-related decline of the physiological reserve and function across multi-organ systems, patients with hip fracture are at risk of multiple complications. Almost every organ is vulnerable, although cognitive dysfunction, cardiac complications and infections are the most frequent and clinically significant. In most common conditions a systematic approach in the management of hip fracture, through a checklist for each professional and shared protocols, is an established method to improve the quality of the intervention and reduce post-operative complications. The vulnerability to complications of older patients with hip fractures may last for several days after surgical repair. However, this group of patients is at high risk of deconditioning in hospital and thus early discharge-planning based on discharge needs is a crucial component in the management of the acute episode.