Fall and Fracture: Elderly Patient in Critical Condition; Professional Treatment: HeYou Medical Staff Ensure Safety

   With the aging of the population, the incidence of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures continues to rise. Among them, hip fractures caused by accidental falls have become a common type of osteoporotic fracture in the elderly. Due to its high prevalence in elderly patients and high mortality rate, it is often referred to as the “last fracture of a lifetime.”

      For the very elderly, a fracture can mean a “life-or-death trial.” Recently, the orthopedic medical team at HeYou Meihe Hospital successfully performed an artificial joint replacement surgery for hip fracture on an 87-year-old patient, bringing new opportunities and hope for the elderly patient's rapid recovery.

Chief Physician Liu Zhixiang of the Geriatric Orthopedics Department at Meihe Hospital conducted a detailed consultation and comprehensive assessment of the elderly patient's condition, recommending that the family arrange for hospitalization as soon as possible. Trusting the expert's opinion, the family contacted an ambulance the next morning and transferred the elderly woman to HeYou Meihe Hospital.

Chief Physician Liu Zhixiang immediately arranged for comprehensive relevant indicator examinations. The hospital's Imaging Department, Laboratory Department, and Ultrasound Department acted promptly to complete all examinations as quickly as possible. The examinations revealed that the elderly woman not only had a comminuted intertrochanteric fracture but also had poor cardiac, pulmonary, and renal function. Coupled with her advanced age, her tolerance for surgery was very low. However, without surgery, the elderly woman would be confined to bed, leading to more complications, greater risks, and a life-threatening situation at any time.

In response to the patient's specific condition, Professor Liu Xiaofang, President of HeYou Hospital, instructed the organization of a multidisciplinary expert consultation and provided professional guidance on the treatment plan and medical safety. The Medical Affairs Department immediately organized multiple MDT meetings involving experts from Orthopedics, Anesthesiology, Geriatrics, Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Laboratory Medicine, and Pharmacy. The experts carefully analyzed the condition and synthesized various indicators to develop a rapid and comprehensive treatment plan to improve the elderly patient's surgical tolerance as soon as possible.

“Despite the high risk and great difficulty, our HeYou expert team possesses rich clinical experience and skilled techniques to overcome various challenges and help the elderly patient through the perioperative period.” Following a comprehensive evaluation by experts including Orthopedics Director Liu Ming, it was determined that Mrs. Lin needed to undergo hip replacement surgery as soon as possible. This would allow her to get out of bed early, reducing complications such as pneumonia and heart failure, and achieving rapid recovery.

The specialists from each discipline, with a professional and collaborative attitude, conducted multiple daily ward rounds and assessments, even working through the weekend, to jointly analyze changes in the patient's condition and adjust the treatment plan in a timely manner. The Nursing Department meticulously organized and arranged for special-level nursing care. Seeing the professional and responsible work of the medical team, the patient's family felt very reassured, expressed full trust in the hospital, and actively cooperated in arranging the surgery.

      On the morning of November 7, with the cooperation of the Anesthesia Center team led by Director Luo Furong and the Geriatrics Department team led by Director Xie Zhiquan, the orthopedic medical team, including Chief Physicians Liu Ming and Liu Zhixiang, and Associate Chief Physician Shi Ruichao, completed the complex surgery of fracture reduction and fixation with cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty in just over 40 minutes. Throughout the surgery, the elderly patient remained conscious with stable vital signs.

The medical team is fully focused on performing the surgery

Postoperatively, the specialists from each discipline continued to be fully attentive, actively adjusting the patient's various metabolic indicators, to prevent complications such as heart failure, pneumonia, lower limb thrombosis, and wound infection. When the elderly patient's condition became unstable in the middle of the night, Director Liu Ming immediately returned from home to the ward to guide monitoring and stayed with the patient until her condition stabilized.

      On the first day after surgery, Mrs. Lin's mental state improved significantly, and she began to want to eat. On the second day, she was able to get out of bed with the help of a nurse and walk slowly with a walker. The re-standed Mrs. Lin smiled happily and gave a thumbs-up to the doctors and nurses along with her family.

Mrs. Lin stands up again with the help of medical staff

Mrs. Lin, who recovered smoothly, was discharged on the third day after surgery and went home to perform functional exercises according to the rehabilitation plan. “The medical staff at HeYou are highly skilled and provide excellent service. They saved my mother's life. Our whole family is truly grateful to you!” The elderly woman's son, Mr. Chen (pseudonym), said gratefully, holding Chief Physician Liu Zhixiang's hand.

Faced with an extremely high-risk surgery, the HeYou medical team worked closely together to overcome the challenges, embodying the patient-centered philosophy. Director Liu Ming stated: “We must truly consider the patient's best interests, proceed from the patient's benefit, and share the risks with the patient's family.” Previously, the orthopedic expert team had performed surgeries on hip fracture patients, with the oldest being 106 years old, and there have been multiple cases involving patients in their 90s.

The doctors who participated in the surgery

Director Liu Ming reminded that elderly hip fractures have almost no chance of complete healing. If conservative treatment is adopted, it will directly lead to long-term bed rest for the elderly, resulting in various dangerous complications such as cardiopulmonary metabolic dysfunction, pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs, urinary tract infection, pressure ulcers, and cerebrovascular accidents, which can even be life-threatening. When an elderly person suffers a hip fracture, family members should seek medical attention as soon as possible, and after a comprehensive evaluation, an appropriate and proactive treatment plan should be adopted.

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