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

My father had knee replacements well into his 90's, and recovered extremely well from it, despite having heart disease but being an otherwise fit man, still going weekly to the gym at that time. I shattered my wrist several years ago ( I have osteoporosis) and the in only feasible option for a good outcome was a metal plate in in my my wrist. A lot of younger than me your dad, admittedly but still...it's now set brilliantly, function is excellent though not quite as good as before the fracture. I was meticulous about the physio and haven't looked back. Best decision I made!

And worry is sin

Of course it isn’t.
And I think that you’ll have found that what the majority (if not all) of the replies confirm that OP’s father’s medics are advising
According to the consultant he spoke to at the Fracture Clinic today he seems to think it is the best option because it is not healing
and aim to provide reassurance based on personal experience.

Your doctors are wiser than most in this forum. Voice your concerns there.

And worry is sin.

My son’s FIL, in his mid-80’s, recently fell and fractured his hip in three places. He had surgery and is now up on his feet again, despite also having a degree of dementia.

I think at 81 and being fit, your father will cope well. Good luck!

my neighbour did; I think when she was 85. She had it done under a local anaesthetic ( nerve block ); painless, and is fin e now.

84 when I had my hip replacement and it was and is very successful.
Your Father will be fine, I wish him well.

Thank you all so much for your replies and reassurance. My father is a very independent person and likes to drive and is normally very active, so surgery like someone pointed out is the only option so he can maintain his independence and activity.

I will be honest I never thought about elderly over 80s having successful hip replacements and recovering well. So looking on it that way my fathers wrist operation is rather minor compared to a hip replacement. He is healthy for his age so he should be ok. He will be having a local anaesthetic for his wrist surgery.

Again thank you all so much your replies mean a lot to me, and they are most appreciated. I will keep this post updated so if someone else has the same worries as myself then it might also put there minds to rest. Just hope it all goes well for my Dad which by all your replies it should do.

HammyHamster

I would suggest it is not only the best option, but possibly the only one.
My sister in law(admittedly «only « 75) shattered her wrist in a fall 18 months ago getting onto a train. As she also has osteoporosis it was particularly nasty and needed pinning. Despite chronic lung disease ( Bronchiectasis ) she came through the operation well and has made an excellent recovery.
Just as well as she had a fall last autumn in London and broke her hip. Again surgery was needed but she is a toughie and came through it well.
Good luck to your Dad.

My friend broke her hip in a fall at nearly 90 had surgery and healed very well if your Dad is reasonably fit then he will be fine Look at all the hip and knee replacements older people have I m same age as your dad and would definitely have what was offered to me

I think he will have to be guided by the medical team dealing with the problem. It doesn’t sound like a straightforward break as he is having pins. Many people his age have new hips and knees and many other operations. He will have to accept that recovery time will be trying. I had a replacement shoulder in my seventies and manage well in my late 70s. He may be given antibiotics as a precaution.
Very best wishes for a good outcome

I broke my wrist a few years ago the fracture was displaced and the wrist was pulled then plastered Unfortunately although the bone was aligned something was not correct and my wrist looked odd they must have felt there was a problem as I received 11 physio sessions NHS and many months of me continuing with the exercises. A friend had a wrist fracture pulled and set and the recovery time was pretty quick.

DH had a triple bypass, a considerably more serious operation, a year short of 80. He is now 82 and alive, well and with me still

I had a fall and fractured my right wrist very badly a few years back as I have osteoporosis. I had to have pins inserted.

I spent quite a while with my arm in a full forearm and wrist plaster and full recovery took some time. I think it is important to have physiotherapy and to do intensive regular exercises to regain full movement. All was well in the end.

I wish your father well with his treatment.

Thank you for your reply Doodledog. That is very reassuring.

My mother had a fall abroad, and had surgery on her arm at about 85 in a Greek hospital.

She recovered well, although she had to have the pins repositioned after a while (in the UK). She came through the surgery very well, despite the heat and stress of it all.

Just to add would having surgery increase the healing time or would having surgery make it sooner for him to gain independence and use of his wrist quicker that it would have been if he had been in a cast?

Thanks
HammyHamster