Why are hip fractures in the elderly so deadly?
In: Biology
A lot of these comments are great I will add another important reason for it being deadly in elderly patients is its danger to all patients. Typically with a broken hip you’re talking about a complex fracture which exposes the bones marrow to all kinds of trauma which leads to marrow infections and then death. Another cause could be the major arteries and veins which can be punctured causing a patient to die out to internal bleeding.
It’s just more common with elderly patients because of general clumsiness of the elderly and the weakening of the bones. As well as the typical act of breaking a hip bone being rather traumatic event of falling and all the subsequent damage.
In contrast I’ve literally seen a elderly person shoulder check a door and break a clavicle it was a simple fracture and it just bruised and healed in a month.
Take care of the elderly around you they’re fragile!
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