Geriatric Orthopedics & Fragility Fracture Management

Geriatric Orthopedics & Fragility Fracture Management focuses on musculoskeletal care for older adults, especially patients affected by low-energy fractures, osteoporosis, reduced mobility, balance problems, chronic disease, frailty, and age-related functional decline. Aging changes the way bones heal, muscles respond, joints move, and patients recover after injury or surgery. This session examines how orthopedic teams can provide safer, more coordinated, and more personalized care for elderly patients who often present with complex medical, social, and rehabilitation needs.

At an Orthopedics Congress, this session is important for orthopedic surgeons, geriatricians, trauma specialists, anesthesiologists, physiotherapists, nurses, rehabilitation teams, occupational therapists, nutrition experts, and healthcare planners involved in elderly care. Fragility fractures are not only bone injuries; they are warning signs of poor skeletal strength, fall risk, frailty, and future fracture possibility. Hip fractures, wrist fractures, vertebral compression fractures, pelvic fractures, and proximal humerus fractures can lead to pain, loss of independence, hospitalization, long recovery periods, and increased mortality if care is delayed or poorly coordinated.

This session is closely associated with Fragility Fracture Care, where treatment must address both the fracture and the underlying causes of skeletal weakness. Important discussions may include osteoporosis assessment, fracture liaison services, fall prevention, surgical timing, perioperative risk reduction, delirium prevention, nutrition, medication review, mobility restoration, and secondary fracture prevention. Care pathways for older adults must consider bone quality, cognitive status, comorbidities, anticoagulant use, home support, rehabilitation potential, and patient goals.

A major challenge in geriatric orthopedics is balancing urgent fracture treatment with medical optimization. Older patients may have heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, anemia, dementia, respiratory problems, or limited mobility before injury. These conditions can affect anesthesia planning, surgical risk, wound healing, rehabilitation speed, and discharge decisions. The session encourages discussion on co-managed care models where orthopedic, geriatric, anesthesia, nursing, and rehabilitation teams work together from admission to recovery.

Recovery after fragility fracture requires more than surgical repair. Early mobilization, pain control, pressure injury prevention, nutrition, balance training, muscle strengthening, assistive device planning, home safety review, and caregiver education all influence outcomes. Many elderly patients fear falling again, which can reduce activity and worsen weakness. A structured rehabilitation plan can help restore confidence, independence, and daily function while lowering future injury risk.

By focusing on geriatric orthopedics and fragility fracture management, this session promotes a complete approach to older adult musculoskeletal care. It supports conversations about fracture prevention, bone health optimization, surgical decision-making, hospital safety, rehabilitation access, long-term follow-up, and quality of life. The session is valuable for professionals aiming to reduce complications, shorten recovery time, prevent repeated fractures, and improve mobility for aging populations.