[Possibilities for orthopedico-surgical reconstruction in joint damage in elderly patients]

If no higher risk operation for the older patient is involved, indication for an arthroplastic joint prosthesis is given on the basis of today's large and world-wide experience. The postoperative mortality is naturally higher than with the younger patients and amounts to 2% in our statistics. A smooth cooperation between the internist and the orthopaedic surgeon enables also to the older patients with higher risk operations, especially thanks to the modern anaesthetic possibilities (f.i. lumbar anaesthetics), a functional recovery of the joint. We should, however, use already with the younger patients all possible joint preserving and supporting surgical operations in order to save the old patients in many cases from the need of implanting a prosthesis.