[Geriatric traumatology - vision or reality?]

The aim of the paper is to provide information on the establishment of the Geriatric Fracture Centre (GFC) at the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty Hospital at the Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Pilsner, whose goals and services are in accordance with the principles of the Rochester GFC, USA, and the AO Foundation at Synthes Inc. The paper presents up-to-date information on the methods of osteosynthesis for the skeletal system affected by osteoporosis, the majority of which was obtained in the AO Geriatric Fracture Course in Davos, December 2007. The authors are concerned with the pre-operative examination of geriatric patients who suffered a fracture.The anaesthesiologist's view on our elderly patients, their pre-operative preparation, anaesthesia application and post-operative care are presented.The novel method of two-phase bone densitometry and its role in the therapy of osteoporosis for elderly patients with fractures are also mentioned.