The author of this article: Weng Xisheng 丨 Chief Physician of the Department of Orthopedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital
In osteoporosis, bones are fragile and easily broken. Common fracture sites in osteoporosis patients include the wrist, spine, and hip.
Image source: Stand Cool Helo
Among them, hip fractures are the most serious consequences of osteoporosis, and the mortality rate after hip fractures is at the top of the list of osteoporosis fractures, for the following reasons:
1 After the hip fracture, the patient is bedridden, the fracture site is very painful, resulting in the patient does not dare to cough, the ability to cough sputum becomes poor, easy to cause collapse pneumonia by sputum blockage, and then cause respiratory failure and heart failure. At the same time, the hip fracture is unable to move and requires long-term bed rest, which further aggravates osteoporosis.
2 Elderly patients are bedridden for a long time, unable to turn over, inconvenient to clean, and are likely to cause pressure sores (that is, skin ulceration, and even infection and suppuration). The parts where the bone structure protrudes from the surface of the skin are prone to form pressure sores, which makes the patient very painful, and may lead to serious infections and even life-threatening.
3 Due to the need for long-term bed rest, it is inconvenient to urinate, which then leads to urinary tract infection and then serious infection-related complications.
4 Long-term bed rest can also cause serious complications such as deep vein thrombosis. After a fracture in the elderly, the body will react to stress, the blood is hypercoagulable, and the blood flow in the lower limbs after bed rest is slow, and it is easy to form blood clots. Once the thrombus falls off, the embolus enters the blood circulation, and if the emboli is in the pulmonary artery, it may lead to sudden death of the patient, and rescue is very difficult.
Image source: Stand Cool Helo
In the face of a hip fracture, all we can do is prevent it as much as possible.
First of all, it is necessary to change the living habits of long-term smoking, heavy drinking, and drinking strong tea to slow down the aging of blood vessels.
Secondly, many people have a very low calcium content in their diets, especially women, who are prone to osteoporosis after menopause and bury the hidden danger of fractures, so they must consciously supplement calcium from the age of 30.
In addition, the floor tiles in the home are preferably non-slip, and the bathroom is covered with anti-slip mats. Usually go out to wear comfortable, fit sneakers, less to go to the uneven road places. In case of rain and snow, it is best not to go out to prevent slipping.
Once a hip fracture occurs, the patient should be treated aggressively if they can tolerate surgery.
*The content of this article is a popularization of health knowledge and cannot be used as a specific diagnosis and treatment recommendation, nor is it a substitute for face-to-face consultation by a practicing physician, for reference only.
*The copyright of this article belongs to Tencent Medical Code, unauthorized media reprinting is prohibited, and illegal reprinting will be investigated for legal responsibility according to law. Individuals are welcome to forward to the circle of friends.