I often hear that from a patient recovering from hip fracture surgery. This is a dangerous choice.
Usually, the patient has a frail spouse who will not prevent another fall while the patient is learning to walk, a process which takes a week or two. And the spouse could fall and break a hip while preventing the patient’s fall!
I ask the family how will they feel if the patient falls and breaks the other hip? And I ask the patient how will you feel if your spouse falls and breaks their hip?
If there are one or two young people at home, with at least one home during the day, then home rehab can work, especially with home health visiting.
Walker Wynkoop MD lives in Los Banos and is a Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon with 30 years’ experience. He works at Surgical Affiliates of California. Please email questions to: Doc@Wynmd.com.
