Bone docs

[rolex]

Elderly father 80+ in plaster for two weeks with a broken foot. Returned to hospital this week for a checkup. Xray reveals it's not knitting and told it may need pinning. Is this normal for older people? Thanx for any replies

[Derby]

2 weeks is quite quick to decide this, however you can get a reasonably good idea as to how bones will heal. As we get older, our ability to lay down calcium decreases and so a bone will take longer to heal. Add to this the fact that the fracture is in the foot and therfore has a moderate amount of movement in it on a daily basis, pinning it may be the best option as this will encourage new bone growth and keep the fracture in a good position.

Hope that helps

[mechsympathy]

Some bones particularly don't heal well because of poor blood supply (IIRC in the foot the navicular can be a problem). Age, compounded by things like peripheral vascular disease and smoking, doesn't help either.

[rolex]

Thanks for the info guys

[The_Doc]

I do bones

agree with all of the above

most foot fractures take 6wks to unite in a healthy middleaged/younger person.

can be double this in elderly or diabetics

can't say any more without history/examination/xrays from the patient

end.