Integrating palliative care principles in orthopaedic management of end-stage musculoskeletal conditions: a path towards holistic patient-centered care

Given the end-stage conditions of these musculoskeletal afflictions, it should be more common to find incorporation of palliative care philosophy in orthopaedic surgery as the best approach to adopt holistic-centered care. Patients typically have chronic and debilitating pain, loss of function, and never wholly recover from irreversibly degenerative conditions. Orthopaedic interventions were usually geared toward acute resolution of injuries as well as physical restoration. However, for patients with terminal bone cancer, severe osteoarthritis, or frailty fractures, curative treatment options merged with therapies for the management of symptoms and enhancing quality of life assume center stage. By embracing palliative care ideas, orthopaedic surgeons might increase their ability to treat not only physical symptoms but also the psychological, emotional, and social elements of patient care. Pain, emotional support, shared decision-making, and comprehensive treatment are all basic principles of palliative care. This article discusses such principles and their importance in orthopaedic practice. It further underlines the significance of a multidisciplinary approach, where orthopaedic surgeons and palliative care specialists, along with the rest of the healthcare providers, are all brought together. The overall aim is therefore to enhance the quality of life for such patients with non-curative conditions. This article urges the need to integrate palliative care into orthopaedic management to provide caring patient-centered outcomes for those suffering with end-stage musculoskeletal diseases.