In old age, broken bones are harder to join

If a child's limb or bone is broken, it is usually fixed quickly. But such a situation does not occur if limbs or bones are broken in old age. According to doctors, bones become weak with age.

In such a situation, if they break their limbs, how quickly should they be treated? How long does it take for bones to join? Senior orthopedic specialist Dr. Edited excerpt from conversation with Dipendra Pandey:

Children's broken limbs are not that much of a problem, they are quickly put back together. But if the old man's limbs are broken, will it take time to join them?

After getting old, just like the changes of old age, the bones also change. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bone loss. This causes the bones to become weak. Therefore, even a small accident can break bones. And, after the bone is broken, the chance of recovery is low.

Therefore, the risk of bone fracture in the elderly is high and it is difficult to join after the fracture. Therefore, it is best to avoid breaking bones as much as possible. In addition, attention should be paid to nutrition including vitamins to strengthen bones.

If the fracture is not properly attached, it becomes difficult to move. If the bone is bent, it will also interfere with other work it does. The pain continues for a long time. Then the broken place can be broken again.

How does osteoporosis occur in old age?

Bone density decreases after the age of 30 in humans. After 50-60 years of age, the density is very low. There is a small, invisible hole in the bone. As a result, the bones become very weak and become brittle, i.e. osteoporosis. In such a situation, there is a possibility of breaking the bones even when lifting things while sneezing. We see elderly people being debilitated, which is not normal. Bones gradually break after osteoporosis and if not treated in time, the back becomes hunched, the height of the body decreases.

After menopause, the hormone estrogen decreases and this also weakens the bones. People who drink alcohol and smoke have weak bones in their old age. In this way, when the bones become weak, even if you fall in a normal way, the bones can break. While doing normal physical work, lifting things, sitting on the toilet and getting up, there is a fear of breaking when trying to get support from the hand. Sneezing to some extent can break the hip bone.

What should be done immediately if a limb or any bone of the body is broken for some reason in old age?

If the bone is broken immediately, you should rest without letting him walk anywhere. If the wrist bone is broken, it should be supported. Ice should be taken to the nearest health institution and X-ray done. If the back and waist are broken, they should be brought to the hospital lying down.

What are the bones that are most prone to fractures in the elderly?

Due to weakness of the wrist bone, the wrist bone breaks when doing any work, falling or bumping into something. Therefore, you have to be careful while doing any activity.

Similarly, the hip bone can also be broken. It is also called bone attack. In such a situation, it is not possible to walk around. He should be taken to the hospital immediately after lying down and resting. If you walk with a broken bone, the vein can be torn.

In old age, the fear of breaking the back bone is the same. Due to this, back pain, height decreases. Staying in one place for a long time leads to more complications in health.

Old bones are joined after breaking?

In old age, bones join, but it takes more time. It does not connect easily. Surgery is often required. If a patient has other diseases, surgery may not be possible. If you have kidney disease, heart disease, or are taking medication, surgery is not possible in the case of broken spine. You may need to rest full time.

What is the treatment for a broken limb or bone?

Treatment of broken bones can be done by two methods like plaster and surgery. For this, first x-ray is done and the location and condition of the fracture is detected. Accordingly, it is decided whether to do surgery or plaster.

Physiotherapy should be done even after treatment for broken limbs in old age. Physiotherapy is mandatory as their flesh is dry and their bones are weak.

How does surgery come about?

Surgery is an option if a fractured bone has moved a little too far. If the bone is not moved too much, it will heal even after plastering. It is often seen that surgery is required after a broken bone in the elderly. Hip and back bone fracture surgery is done. If back surgery is not possible, bed rest for three months, wearing a belt, doing physiotherapy, and taking medicine should be done.

How long does it take to heal after a broken bone is treated?

If the wrist bone is broken, it takes up to 6 weeks after treatment. It takes up to 6 months for the hip and spine to heal.

It is also treated with domestic and natural methods, how effective is it?

Treatment of broken hands is not possible with home or natural methods. As soon as some patients break their bones, they come to the hospital only late because they cannot tolerate the use of various herbs. It does not heal the fractured area properly. Similarly, there are also cases of cases where bandages are kept tight and if other herbs or ointments are applied too late, the treatment cannot be done and the hands have to be amputated.

If the fracture is not properly attached What kind of problems come up?

If the fracture is not properly attached, it becomes difficult to move. If the bone is bent, it will also interfere with other work it does. The pain continues for a long time. Then the broken place can be broken again. The back and hip bones are broken and if they do not connect properly even after treatment, more bed rest is required. Sleeping in one place for a long period of time can cause back pain, pneumonia in the chest and other diseases such as blood clots and blood circulation cannot be done. Due to which death can happen.

How to keep bones healthy and strong?

To make bones healthy and strong, you should eat more foods that are rich in calcium and vitamin D. You should eat foods like fish, meat, eggs, broccoli, mushrooms, soybeans, yogurt, paneer, tofu, oranges, and nuts. But diet alone does not make bones strong. Not only in old age, doing physical exercise and yoga from now helps to keep bones healthy. Elderly people should walk even with the help of a stick or other family members when they are active. Similarly, the habit of drinking and smoking should be removed. Along with this, it is important to know whether taking any medicine affects the bones or not.

At what time can you get vitamin D in the sun?

Calcium and vitamin D are essential for healthy bones. Vitamin D can be obtained from sunlight. Since the sun after 12 o'clock produces more vitamin D, it is mandatory for the elderly and other age groups to stay in the sun for 15 minutes as much as possible. If you can't do it every day, you have to stay in the sun three days a week.

What is the treatment of broken bones in Nepal?

If a bone is broken in old age, there is no easy treatment for it in Nepal. As soon as arms and legs are broken, we only resort to plasters and surgery. But in old age, bones become weak and break, and there is little awareness that osteoporosis should be treated to prevent fractures. Osteoporosis causes the bones to weaken and break the most.

Therefore, it is important to detect osteoporosis. It seems necessary to spread awareness on this matter. Osteoporosis disease is detected with the help of Dexa scan. This machine is not even in the big hospitals of the country. This disease does not seem to be a priority yet. There is MRI, CT scan, but there is no DEXA scan, which is very important for senior citizens. Which is sad. Medicines for osteoporosis are also not readily available.

As in developed countries, attention has been paid to dance classes, various exercises and diet for the elderly, it is important to follow this in Nepal.