At 103 years old, she underwent successful surgery for a femur fracture at San Jacopo Hospital in Pistoia. Two days later, the patient, Ms. Dina, was back on her feet. The operation was performed by Luca Turelli, director of the orthopedic unit, in collaboration and with the support of the operating room staff coordinated by Tania Fioravanti.
The surgery, explains the Central Tuscany Local Health Authority, "was routine, but its extraordinary nature is due to the woman's age and early return to walking: two days after surgery, she was back on her feet." Lucilla Di Renzo, the hospital's medical director, explains: "The excellent result is made possible by orthogeriatrics, the program that helps elderly patients with hip fractures walk early after surgery, even those over 100. This program requires close collaboration between the orthopedist, geriatrician, anesthesiologist, nurse, physiotherapist, and, if requested, even the social worker , so as to address the numerous problems resulting from a femur fracture with a multifaceted and multiprofessional approach."
"Nowadays, in our company's orthopedic facilities," says Stefano Michelagnoli, director of the Department of Specialized Surgery, " surgeries involving patients over 100 are increasingly frequent. This is thanks to the surgical techniques we adopt, which allow even the elderly to recover quickly. The skill of our healthcare professionals in treating such extremely fragile individuals is also remarkable. A 105-year-old patient recently underwent surgery at San Giovanni di Dio, demonstrating that life expectancy has increased and that the presence of centenarians in our operating rooms is increasingly common."
"Ms. Dina, a paragon of strength and determination, was cared for by a multidisciplinary team that enabled a surprisingly rapid recovery," commented Governor Eugenio Giani. " Thanks to the orthogeriatric program, even patients over 100 are increasingly able to walk again after surgery . This is a concrete testament to the value of our public health system, which I defend every day and which leaves no one behind. A huge thank you to all the staff involved."
