With an ageing population, the number of vulnerable elderly people suffering from hip fractures is rapidly increasing. These patients require intensive care and face a high risk of complications during their recovery. During his inaugural lecture on Thursday 3 October, Professor Dr Han Hegeman, professor at the University of Twente and trauma surgeon at ZGT (Ziekenhuisgroep Twente), emphasises the crucial importance of technological innovations and collaboration to improve care for this vulnerable patient group. “By making smart use of technology and cooperation between different healthcare disciplines, we can optimise the treatment and rehabilitation of elderly people with hip fractures,” said Hegeman.
Detecting complications early
In his inaugural lecture, Hegeman reflects on the challenges of treating elderly patients with hip fractures. Besides the physical limitations caused by the fracture, these patients often face risks of complications such as pneumonia, heart failure, or delirium (acute confusion) following surgery. “A hip fracture means a long and difficult journey for many elderly patients,” Hegeman explains. “It is essential that we not only treat the fracture, but also detect complications during rehabilitation early. Technology plays a decisive role in this.”
Since 2005, Hegeman has been working as a trauma surgeon at ZGT and co-founded the Centre for Geriatric Traumatology (CvGT) in 2008. This centre is dedicated to improving care for elderly patients with hip fractures through multidisciplinary collaboration. “Despite the progress we have made, there is still room for improvement, especially in monitoring treatment and rehabilitation,” Hegeman added.
Smart sensors for faster recovery
During his inaugural lecture, Hegeman discusses the technological innovations that the University of Twente, in collaboration with healthcare institutions such as ZGT, TriviumMeulenbeltZorg, ZorgAccent, and Carintreggeland, is deploying to detect and prevent complications in vulnerable elderly patients. A key element of this research is the use of the MOX sensor, a small device attached to the patient's leg that continuously monitors movements. “Traditionally, we tracked patients' recovery using questionnaires and physiotherapy visits, but that only provided a snapshot,” said Hegeman. “Thanks to sensors, we can now continuously monitor and intervene more quickly if recovery stalls.”
The MOX sensor will provide healthcare providers with a more complete picture of the recovery process by collecting data on the patient's movements 24/7. This allows for better tracking of recovery and early detection of problems. “Previously, this was unthinkable,” Hegeman explains. “But now, thanks to this technology, we can accurately determine how a patient is recovering and where complications might arise.”
In addition to the MOX sensor, a handgrip strength meter, a device that measures the patient's physical strength, is also being used. This technology helps healthcare providers estimate how well someone might recover and could make predictions about the further course of rehabilitation. “These technological tools give us a much more detailed picture of treatment and rehabilitation than ever before,” Hegeman added.
Personalised care with data analytics
According to Hegeman, the future of elderly care lies in personalised care, supported by data analysis and artificial intelligence. “With AI, we will be able to provide tailored care in the future by recognising recovery patterns and predicting complications,” he says. “Thanks to these technologies, we can better predict which patients will need extra care and intervene in time to prevent complications.”
However, he stresses that there is no time to lose: “Ageing is already happening and healthcare costs continue to rise. We must invest in these technologies now if we want to make healthcare future-proof.”
Collaboration makes the difference
Although technology plays a major role in healthcare, Hegeman emphasises that collaboration between different disciplines is the key to success. “Technology alone is not enough. Real progress is made through close cooperation between healthcare professionals, researchers, and technological experts,” Hegeman said. “Only through this collaboration can we take the care of vulnerable elderly people to the next level and ensure that technology actually improves patients’ lives.”
He adds: “Together, we can develop transmural care pathways that seamlessly connect care from hospital to rehabilitation and home care, achieving real progress for our patients.”
More information
Professor Dr Han Hegeman has been a trauma surgeon at ZGT (Ziekenhuisgroep Twente) since 2005 and co-founder of the Centre for Geriatric Traumatology (CvGT). He is a professor at the University of Twente (TechMed Centre), where he is chair of ‘Remote monitoring in treatment and rehabilitation of trauma patients’. On Thursday 3 October, he will give his inaugural lecture, titled “Samen gaan we verder komen”, in which he will discuss the potential of technology and collaboration to further improve care for elderly patients with hip fractures. This oration will be given in Dutch.
