ORIF (open reduction and internal fixation) surgery might be something that your senior has to have if she breaks a bone in multiple places or if she experiences a bad compound fracture that can’t be healed with a cast alone. If your aging family member has osteoporosis or has multiple risk factors for experiencing a fall, those can be factors that might lead to an ORIF surgery should she break a bone. Hiring post-surgery care providers could help with the recovery process.
Here’s what she needs to know about this type of surgery.
What Is ORIF Surgery?
ORIF stands for open reduction internal fixation. This is a type of orthopedic surgery in which the surgeon makes an incision to begin realigning the bone that is broken. Typically, the broken bone is repaired with screws, rods, plates, or pins as necessary. Recovery from ORIF surgery can vary quite a bit depending on the severity of the break and a ton of other factors.
Keep the Incision Clean
Any surgical incision needs to be kept clean and watched for signs of infection. The same is true for an ORIF surgical incision. Depending on the location of the incision, it might be very difficult for your elderly family member to care for her wound on her own. Having help from post-surgery care providers is a huge help.
Follow the Care Plan from Her Surgeon
When your senior is released from the hospital, her surgeon will give her a list of care instructions that she needs to follow in order to have the best recovery possible. The care plan might involve information about medications she needs to take as well as other recommendations, like how much activity she’s allowed to engage in. Depending on the broken bone and the location of the surgery, your elderly family member might be confined to bed during her recovery.
Post-Surgery Care Makes a Difference in Other Ways, Too
Post-surgery care can make keeping up with the recovery plan so much easier for your senior. They can also help her to manage personal care tasks and eat healthy meals while she’s recovering. Care providers are also able to assist with transfers to help your senior to stay off of her feet. If there are other types of care that your senior needs, they can help her to coordinate that assistance.
Your senior’s medical team may recommend physical therapy right from the very beginning. A physical therapist can help your elderly family member to avoid losing too much muscle tone while she’s recovering. When she’s ready to be getting back on her feet, physical therapy can help her to do so safely and without risking further injury as she continues to recover.
Recovering from any type of surgery is a big deal for aging adults, no matter what the reason for the surgery is. Ensuring that your elderly family member has the help and the tools that she needs to safely recover from ORIF surgery can be as easy as lining up post-surgery care as soon as she returns home.
If you or a loved one are considering Post-Surgery Care Services near Hershey PA, contact the caring staff at Extended Family Care of Lancaster. Call today at (717) 205-2174.
- Celebrating Milestones: Birthdays, Anniversaries, and New Additions! - November 28, 2023
- Symptoms Of ALS Seniors Shouldn’t Ignore - November 20, 2023
- The Best Teas For Your Senior This Fall - October 30, 2023
