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Fracture Care in the Elderly

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Osteoporosis in Older Persons

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Fractures are an unfortunate but common occurrence in the aged population. They are a result of the inevitable decline of a number of bodily systems including bone homeostasis, muscular strength, balance, dexterity, and, in some cases, psychological fitness. With the increasing elderly population resultant from longer life expectancies, the sheer number of fractures encountered by health care providers has necessitated closer evaluation of their treatment. This has in fact commanded attention as a distinct area of study within orthopedic traumatology and spinal surgery over the past few years.

A discussion of fractures in older persons must recognize the catastrophic influence of age-related osteoporosis on the skeleton. Such a discussion engages not only the culpability of osteoporosis for proclivity towards fracture, but also the technical challenges faced with attempts to mend the weakened bones. With age, osteoporosis insidiously converts normal rigid bones into veritable “empty egg shells” that can be crushed between one's fingers with little effort. In addition, a discussion of fracture treatment in older individuals would be remiss without acknowledging the associated co-morbidities that can make a surgical procedure risky to perform (1) or that may result from a delay in stabilization (2,3).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Medical School, Chief, Spine Service, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA

    Christopher M. Bono MD (Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery)

  2. Harvard Medical School, Orthopaedic Trauma Service, Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Timothy Bhattacharyya MD (Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery)

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  1. Christopher M. Bono MD
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  2. Timothy Bhattacharyya MD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Geriatric Medicine-Jewish General Hospital, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Gustavo Duque

  2. Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Douglas P. Kiel

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Bono, C.M., Bhattacharyya, T. (2009). Fracture Care in the Elderly. In: Duque, G., Kiel, D.P. (eds) Osteoporosis in Older Persons. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84628-697-1_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84628-697-1_13

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