Injuries from slipping on ice
By Song Sang-ho
Recently patients injured from falls have greatly increased due to heavy snowfalls and icy roads and sidewalks. Such cases usually increase in December and January.
Falling can cause fractures, especially in the wrist and hip joints of elderly people. They have weaker balance and are less able to support their weight so they fall easily on ice.
Thirty to 50 percent of senior citizens who fall and fracture bones die within six months if they do not receive the proper treatment. When the elderly patients lie in bed for a long time, their cardiac and lung functions weaken and various complications such as pressure ulcers, sepsis, and deep vein thrombosis increase death risks.
To prevent such complications, early treatment is the priority. Hip joint fractures are divided into intertrochanteric fractures and femoral neck fractures. Intertrochanteric fractures refer to damage to the femoral head area between the greater trochanter and the lesser trochanter. This fracture can be treated with metal screw fixation. Femoral neck fractures refer to a break in the femoral head and are treated with total hip replacement (THR) surgery.
Recently, “THR surgery with minimum incisions preserving muscles and tendons” has become a safe treatment for the elderly. Minimum incision surgery preserves muscles and tendons by reducing the incision from between 15 and 20 centimeters to between 8 and 10 centimeters and preserves the lateral rotator muscles to notably decrease dislocation rates after surgery. Since the muscles and tendons are preserved, patients can start walking four hours after surgery. Patients recover faster with short-term rehabilitation therapy.
In wrist fractures, about two to 10 times the body weight of the falling person is loaded onto the joint when people reflectively put a hand out to break their fall. Old people with weaker bones due to osteoporosis have a higher risk of wrist fractures and take longer time to recover.
If the wrist swells up and is painful after a fall, you need to see a doctor immediately. Mild fractures can be treated with a cast but when it is not treated, it can lead to arthritis in the wrist and deformation that could need surgical treatment.
You also need to pay attention to vertebral compression fractures. Compression fractures are accompanied by back, thoracic, chest, lower abdominal and hip pain when the fracture is severe. “Vertebroplasty” can be considered as a treatment when the pain persists and makes daily activities difficult.
If you have osteoporosis, you need to be more careful not to fall down. Most senior citizens suffer from osteoporosis but it does not have noticeable symptoms. Therefore, many people don’t know that they have osteoporosis until they fall down and injured.
In order to prevent fracture injuries on snowy days avoid walking with both hands in your pockets or moving fast. The elderly are recommended to use canes or other walking aids. Wearing flat shoes with good grip and walking slowly taking short strides can also prevent falls.
Continuous rain and snow is forecast until the end of the year. If you can’t avoid icy roads and sidewalks, let’s maintain healthy habits to keep our bones strong. Exercising regularly and eating food rich in calcium and vitamin D can prevent osteoporosis. If you’re over 50, get regular medical checkups to treat osteoporosis early. Let’s keep in mind that a snow-white winter is beautiful but it can be a threat to your health.
The writer is the president of Wellton Bone & Joint Hospital.