My father is 81 years old and had bone cancer in 2008. Once the tumor shrank, his leg muscles atrophied to the point where they broke and he needed to have a metal rod inserted into his leg to hold it together. This weekend he fell off his chair and broke his hip. Tomorrow he s scheduled for surgery on the hip and while in there, they plan to take out the rod in his leg, and reinsert a shorter rod. Doesn t this sound excessive for a man his age? How long will the surgery take?
Hi, Thanks for writing in. Recent advances in medicine propose that a patient gets available treatment and has a comfortable and pain free life even in old age. Since his age is 81 years therefore his recovery might take slightly longer due to weak bones. However, treatment for a broken hip is certainly recommended at his age. The surgery might take about over 3 hours if everything goes planned, and I am sure the doctors have studied his general condition before deciding on the surgery. The hip is an important part of the anatomy, and he should withstand the procedure well. Please do not worry.