[Hip fracture--personal, family and social problem of the third age]

The percentage of elderly people increases in societies today and so does the number of specific conditions, illnesses and injuries, with hip fracture as the most important one. The aim of the study was to point to hip fracture as a medical and social problem by objectively quantifying functional abilities of geriatric patients after hip fracture.

The study included 414 (63 male and 351 female) with femoral neck fracture and hip endoprosthesis implanted at University Department of Traumatology in Ljubljana during the 1988-2004 period. Data on sex distribution, concomitant diseases, complications, estimation of functionality before injury, and dynamic and final level of functional recovery were collected.

The patient mean age was 77 +/- 7.3 (range 28-96) years. Excellent mobility before injury, according to personal report, was recorded in 322 (77.78%), good mobility in 78 (18.84%) and poor mobility in only 14 (3.38%) patients. The mean dynamics of functional recovery was as follows: independent sitting at 2 days, standing at 3.6 days, and walking at 7 days of the surgery. At the end of rehabilitation, an average patient felt periodic pain that did not affect his/her activities, could walk without problems at least one kilometer, limped to a certain degree, used a cane, could climb stairs holding a handrail, sat in the chair for a long time, put on shoes and socks with minor difficulties, used public transportation and had no significant deformity of the hip. With that level of functionality, our patients were independent in daily activities, able to stay socially integrated, and other people's help was reduced to the minimum.

The patient's functionality before injury, the duration and quality of rehabilitation after surgery, and the patient's motivation and cooperation during rehabilitation are the key factors of patient recovery to the pre-injury state. In spite of numerous concomitant diseases, reduced psychophysical abilities of the elderly and medical difficulties in the management of these injuries, such treatment of hip fractures is necessary and human for patients and time-consuming for medical staff, yet being the most profitable option for the society. Hip fracture and consequential disablement cause a double problem. On the one hand, it entails dependence on other person, family or social institution, or society in general, and on the other hand there is mental frustration, especially if he/she is psychically instable. Quite frequently, disabled persons have psychical traumas that have unfavorable impact on their families. It is additionally complicated in societies that tend to stigmatization of disabled persons. Therefore, it is very important how the society will behave toward disabled elderly who are generally more vulnerable.