My 67 year old mum felt/heard a crack in her right thigh yesterday and fell to the ground. She was taken to A&E, and a fractured thigh bone was confirmed. Yesterday evening, she was put in traction and they are hoping to perform surgery today.
My questions are these.
1. Although I appreciate her age and the likelihood of osteoporosis, is it normal for such a large bone to literally snap without any prior trauma?
2. What is the recovery prognosis for such a condition? She is already arthritic in her knees, spine, hips etc, and following an illness earlier this year, currently weighs about 15 stone.
2007-08-16 03:48:15 · 4 answers · asked by Daisy Artichoke 3 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
My mother had this same thing happen to her about 5 years ago. She was 72 at the time. She just twisted the wrong way and the bone snapped. She had previously had a broken hip and had both knees replaced. She has osteporosis and arthritis.
The doctors put a steel rod in her thigh. She was in the rehabilitation hospital for a couple weeks, walked with a walker and then a cane but now walks just fine.
She will soon be 78 and does not need even a cane now. Still drives and leads a normal life.
A lot of how your mom recovers will have to do with her attitude. Mine was very determined not to let this stop her.
2007-08-16 04:01:55 · answer #1 · answered by zoenicekitty 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is not un expected for an osteoporotic bone to break without prior injury. But at 15 stone your mum is not the typical osteoporotic patient (they are typically thin).
Her prognosis is fair. Her weight is against her, but with the meds for osteoporosis currently available and the current techniques of an ORIF she should do OK.
The anesthesia is of course a risk as are the other health issues which would be expected in a 15 stone woman.
2007-08-16 11:12:40 · answer #2 · answered by US_DR_JD 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it isn't un common for the thigh bone to break, it is more usual in rta victims, usually the driver. It seems unusual to just hear a crack and it happen but they will check her bone density and bloods incase it is anything un toward. Although it is a very painful injury they will usually operate to insert a metal rod down through the femur. mobility after is on an individual basis, although even though she is arthritic if her mobility was good before she should get back to full mobility.
2007-08-20 06:24:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she was a horse you'd have her put out of her misery, but as she is only your mother she wont receive that bit of compassion we reserve only for animals. It's a funny old world is'nit.
2007-08-16 18:03:47 · answer #4 · answered by jingles 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋