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Over the past two weeks, Hadassah hospitals have seen a rise in orthopedic injuries among older adults rushing to safe rooms. Many of these cases involve hip fractures, which often require immediate surgery followed by rehabilitation.
Tamar Nahari rushed to the safe room in the middle of the night and, in a brief moment of inattention, fell and suffered a complex ankle fracture.
Nahari, 62, who lives in Moshav Ora on the outskirts of Jerusalem, did not expect that the alarm would result in a complex ankle fracture and orthopedic surgery at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem, where she is now recovering in the orthopedics department, located three floors underground in a protected compound.
"It happened in the middle of the night," said Nahari, a married mother of four and a private English teacher. "I woke up from the loud sound of the alarm and immediately got out of bed. I rushed to the safe room at home, and I really don't know how – I fell and felt a sharp pain in my ankle. The safe room is very close to the bedroom, so it all happened in one second. As the hours passed, the pain increased, and deep down I knew that something had happened to my leg, that I had been injured in an unusual way.”
Nahari stayed home at first, hoping the pain would pass, but as her ankle swelled, turned blue and the bone began to protrude, she realized she needed to go to the emergency room.
The orthopedic team at Hadassah Ein Kerem examined Nahari, performed imaging tests and diagnosed a complex fracture with a dislocated ankle. That same day, the joint was reset and her leg was placed in a cast, giving Nahari strict instructions not to bear weight.
"I'm very lucky to be recovering in a hospital ward that is on an underground floor, and during alarms, I don't have to be moved. The place is safe and protected, and the staff – including the surgeons and all those here in the department – are a wonderful gift to humanity."
Dr. David Laniado, an expert in orthopedic trauma and skeletal deformities, led the surgery and operated on Nahari alongside Dr. Muhammad Sabatin, anesthesiologist Dr. Muhammad Shehadeh and operating room nurse Muhalues Diaaldin. The surgery at Hadassah Ein Kerem was performed in operating rooms located four floors underground, allowing procedures to continue uninterrupted even during alarms.
"During the surgery, the joint was put back in place and her ankle fractures were fixed," Dr. Laniado described. "In such cases, there is a risk of cartilage erosion, which can prevent the fracture from healing properly. Surgery was therefore the right solution for Tamar. Within a few weeks of her operation and discharge home, she will begin a foot rehabilitation program."
Dr. Laniado said that since the "Roaring Lion" war began, there has been an increase in orthopedic trauma cases, particularly hip fractures among older adults.
"In older people, bones are often weakened due to osteoporosis, making hip fractures more likely when the area experiences trauma, such as a fall on the way to the safe room. Although the femur is the largest and strongest bone in the body, it is still susceptible to such trauma. A femoral neck fracture is a fracture in the upper part of the femur, where it meets the pelvic bone," emphasized Dr. Laniado.
"We remind everyone that while moving quickly when an alarm sounds is essential, the path to the protected space must be kept safe, calm and free of obstacles. Look out for your spouse, parents and anyone who may be at risk of stumbling along the way. Falls, especially among older adults, can lead to serious injury, prolonged recovery and a significant impact on quality of life, and we prefer to prevent this."
