ABSTRACT
Older adults are the fastest growing segment of the United States and global population, and so the prevalence of geriatric fracture and the associated healthcare and societal costs can be expected to increase in commensurate fashion. 1 , 2 As older adults in general have a more limited functional reserve, a fracture in this patient population can have significant adverse consequences, including loss of independence, institutionalization and even an increased risk of death. Hip fracture is the archetype of this phenomenon; in the year following hip fracture up to 50% of older adults may be institutionalized, while reported mortality rates range from 12% to 35%. 3 , 4 Other fragility fractures associated with increased morbidity and mortality include spine, proximal humerus and distal forearm fractures. 4 However, even a relatively minor fracture of an older adult’s dominant hand may have a marked impact on an older individual’s functional independence if they are, for instance, living alone with no family or social support. Rehabilitation is the process of restoring function, and the primary goal of a rehabilitation program in an older adult who has sustained a fracture is to optimize their functional recovery to at least, if not above, their pre-fracture level. For those living in the community, this goal would include returning to their previous living setting.
