Clinical interventions in aging
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Multicenter Study
Is cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty a safe treatment for femoral neck fracture in elderly patients?
Controversy exists regarding the use of cement in hemiarthroplasty when treating a displaced femoral neck fracture in elderly patients. The primary hypothesis of this study was that the use of cement would afford better visual analog pain and activity scores in elderly patients. ⋯ The use of cement during hip hemiarthroplasty in patients over 65 years of age had no negative impact on mortality or morbidity. Hemodynamic changes during cement application are important, but it is noteworthy that patients fitted with cemented endoprostheses had increased levels of activity and lower pain levels.
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Multicenter Study
The effect of a virtual ward program on emergency services utilization and quality of life in frail elderly patients after discharge: a pilot study.
Attendance at emergency departments and unplanned hospital readmissions are common for frail older patients after discharge from hospitals. A virtual ward service was piloted to deliver "hospital-at-home" services by community nurses and geriatricians to frail older patients immediately after their discharge from hospital to reduce emergency services utilization. ⋯ The study results support the effectiveness of the virtual ward service in reducing unplanned emergency medical readmissions and in improving the QOL in frail older patients after discharge.