My father 81 needs wrist surgery for a bad fracture and I am worried

My Dad was 81yo when he broke his wrist. He went to A&E but overheard the doctor say: he’s an old fella, just patch him up. Dad intervened and told the doctor he was still driving his car; living independently (Mum had died 7yrs earlier) and still enjoying a round of golf and that his quality of life was very important to him.
The doctor apologised and his wrist was properly treated.
He made a full recovery

Yesterday, my mother (aged 84 and with dementia) broke her right hip and was operated on today. Luckily all has gone well - it was worrying last night when the hosp said they would not be resuscitating her if her heart failed at the beginning or after the op. Living about 250 miles away I was unable to a last minute visit.

My aunt was 90 when she fell and broke her hip. She had THR with no complications and lived another eight healthy years. Try not to worry.

If your father does not have the operation, he will probably never be able to use that wrist and hand properly again, so please try not to worry,

If your father is worried, he is entitled to ask for another surgeon's opinion, before consenting to, or declining the operation.

I had my wrist pinned a few years back. Admittedly, I wasn't 80, but I have other underlying health conditions. I requested the surgery to be done under a local (block) anaesthetic, something which my surgeon couldn't quite understand, and had to return to the hospital two days later for the proceedure. They kept me in overnight because my arm was totally numb and I couldn't feel where it was or what it was doing, but other than that it was totally successful. Physio started within a couple of weeks, and about 2 months later I was back practicing the (classical) guitar - in a very limited way, admittedly, to start off with - but I had no retriction caused by the surgery. I was told I could drive as soon as I felt I could handle the car in an emergency!! As long as he religiously does the exercises, he should be beck driving fairly soon!!
Just a word of warning: if he has to go through a security check, just let them know he has metal in his arm!!

One of my line dance buddies aged 82 broke her wrist badly last year, she slipped over when out hiking with friends and had to have her wrist pinned. In the past she has had many health problems but like your father she is very active and viewed being unable to drive for a few weeks more of an inconvenience than anything else. After surgery she was soon back to her many activities going out daily with the help of lifts from friends until she was able to drive again.

If your father doesn't have surgery what is his likelihood of being able to use his wrist/arm how he would want to. Loads of people in 80s have surgery and recover well. He feels he is fit so surely his prognosis is good.

I had a complex op on my wrist done under local (nerve block) anaesthetic. Less risky.

My 90 year old friend had both her knee and hip done under local ( not at the sane time I will add) she was so funny she said the surgeon told her she had been chatting away to them snd she remembers saying ‘ they re doing an awful lot of work on this building I can hear the builders banging away’ little realise it was her own bones being sawed and hammered that she could hear, we had a good laugh afterwards.

Can I emphasise the importance of your father doing all the exercises the physiotherapists give him.

I had an uncle, aged about 80 and quite fit but afflicted with deep depression. He dislocated his shoulder. He was given exercises to do to get his arm back in order but because of his depression, did not do them, saying there was no point he was crippled for life and he was! He ended up with an almost useless arm, without strength, and with limited movement.

They are rushing to surgery after 9 days? My DGS has been told up to 6 weeks and he is 13 with good strong bones and a love of milk and cheese (calcium to mend bones).

They may be suggesting pins now because of a long waiting list. I would want to wait a bit if it was me, simply because I have had 2 falls (nothing broken except teeth), but it took me a few months to heal properly and get over the shock.

He may well not have a general anesthetic anyway, but his age is no barrier to surgery as long as you can get him out of the germ- ridden hospital the same day.

Sorry to hear about your Father. I do hope the surgery will go well.

Speaking as someone who fractured their left wrist about 7 months ago. Please think about how your father will cope when he gets home

My fracture was relatively simple after slipping off a bus. Small break on the left distal radial bone.

My arm was in a cast for 5 weeks and was very stiff and painful when the cast was taken off. Movement was really restricted.

Apparently, being in a cast immobilises lots of healthy nerves, muscles, tendons etc which need to be woken up again with physio. Even after the bone has knitted together!

I do regular physio prescribed exercises every day and see an NHS physio ever 4 to 6 weeks.

However, although l am slowly getting the movement back l still have a fair way to go.

Best Wishes for quick recovery.

Again thank you all for your support and replies.

Update: Pleased to say that my father had his surgery and it was a distal radius wrist orif and had a plate and pins inserted. All went well, and he found it an interesting experience. First 24 - 48 hours he had some pain but nothing that pain medication could sort out and manage. So now I have a bionic dad with bits of expensive titanium in his wrist. He seems to be in ok spirits but is getting frustrated and wants to get back doing things himself and getting back to being independent. Has an appointment in 11 days time at fracture clinic for a checkup and removal of bandages and stitched also an appointment with an OT for the start of physio on his wrist. Like I said he is wanting to get back to driving and being independent, but he will not be driving until he has got good movement and grip.

Again thanks for your support and replies it is very much appreciated. I will try and keep you all updated as this post may help others in the future.

HammyHamster

@Sarahleigh I am so sorry to hear about your mum. I am pleased she has had her operation and all went well. I hope your Mum makes a speedy recovery.

@Dowsabella Yes my father joked that he will be setting all the alarms off if he walked through security checks. :D

@Quizzer Yes my father had a nerve block in the arm. The surgery took slightly over an hour to do.

@HammyHamster So glad all has gone well for your Dad. His experience was much the same as mine! And he has the bonus of the incentive of wanting to get back to driving again!!
Best wishes to him. I hope he gets a lot of support from his physio and occupational therapy groups once he graduates to them. We had lots of fun working and laughing together to get back to normal, and providing support for each other during times when the going seemed really tough