Why are hip fractures in the elderly so deadly?
In: Biology
There are a lot of factors at play. First, know that the surgery itself is very rarely fatal. 1 year mortality rates are around 25%, depending on the study you look at. Decreased mobility afterwards can lead to blood clots, exacerbate heart disease/heart failure, etc. The incidence of postoperative cognitive decline cannot be discounted either. Many patients lose a step physically & mentally as well from the anesthesia. Both of these factors play a role in the high mortality rate after surgical repair.
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