Femoral neck fracture in older people

The femoral neck fracture is a typical fracture of the elderly, especially women are often affected, as women have an increased risk of osteoporosis. The altered bone structure is less resilient and tends to break when force is applied. Frequently, falls occur in the home environment, which lead to a fracture of the femoral neck.

It is therefore particularly important for the elderly person to minimize their risk of falling. The fear of falling also increases the risk of falling. People who feel safe on their legs fall less often.

In order to maintain stability and gait, older people should do a strengthening and stabilizing training. Coordination and balance can also be specifically trained to minimize the risk of falling. There are certain groups for the appropriate target group that offer fall prevention. Rehabilitation sports, gymnastics, aqua gymnastics and other sports activities also promote the strength and mobility of the leg muscles. Maintaining mobility and strength even at an advanced age is important to be safe and independent in everyday life and to reduce the risk of falling in the home environment.

How and when does the operation have to be performed?

Surgery for femoral neck fractures depends on the degree of injury, the fracture angle and the stability of the fracture. Stable fractures can often be treated conservatively. Unstable fractures are operated on.

There are a variety of options. Osteosyntheses with screws and plates, the dynamic hip screw and various techniques of endoprosthetic joint replacement are possible. The surgical procedure is made more difficult if the bone tissue is altered and unstable due to previous diseases, such as osteoporosis.

The aim of the operation is to allow the patient to put weight on and move his leg again as quickly as possible. Particularly in older people, typical risk factors such as lung diseases, thromboses, circulatory problems or loss of mobility in other joints can be prevented. The keyword is early mobilization. In younger patients, for example after an accident, usually no endoprosthetic joint replacement is carried out, but instead screws are used to try to repair the bone, since the life of the joint replacement is limited and a replacement of the prosthesis should be avoided.