Fractured Neck Of Femur Health And Social Care Essay

AM didn’t feel too well 24 hours previously after having feelings of nausea and lethargy. Next day she felt faint, went to lie down and blacked out. She then woke up on the kitchen floor. The fall was witnessed by the granddaughter who called 999. During the blackout AM was incontinent of urine and faeces. Granddaughter recounts that she fell onto the left side but AM did not recall the incident. She was not confused when she came round.

PMHx:

CABG – 12 years previously

Hypertension

Right total knee replacement – 6 years ago

Asthma

Previous syncopal episodes

DHx: NKDA

Drug Name

Dose

Indication

Ramipril

2 mg

ACE inhibitors, hypertension

Aspirin

75mg

Salicylate drug used for analgesia

Cocodamol

30/500

Compound analgesic

Omeprazole

20mg

Proton Pump Inhibitor

Quinune Sulphate

200mg

Antipyretic, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-arrhythmic

Seretide

1 puff

Beta receptor agonist for asthma

Salbutamol

2 puffs

Beta receptor agonist for asthma

FHx:

Mother and Father died of MI aged 76 and 94 respectively

Daughter – Advanced metastatic breast cancer

SHx:

Lifestyle

Alcohol: Social

Ex smoker: from 18-76, stopped after right knee replacement. 10/day

Exercise: Gentle walking

Diet: Reasonable is good, wife makes sure of this.

Occupation: Retired Rolls Royce Inspector

Lives at home with granddaughter and family

15 stairs to front door

Uses zimmer but wants to move to a walking stick

Systemic enquiry:

GU:

nil

GI:

Nausea: yes

Nil else

RS:

Cough with sputum

Nil else

CVS:

Chest pain: no

Breathlessness: yes

Oedema: no

Palpitation: no

No PND or orthopnoea

MSS:

nil

CNS:

Syncope

Examination:

1. General appearance:

Alert and well

2. Vital Signs:

Pulse: 59 regular

BP: 170/70,

TÂ°: 36.6Â°,

SpO2: 98% on air

RR: 14

BMI:

3. Hands, nails, eyes:

o clubbing, o koilonychias, , o splinter haemorrhages

o cyanosis, central or peripheral o Jaundice oLeukonychia o Palmar erythema.

4. Mouth, tongue:

nil

5. Neck:

o cervical lymphadenopathy

GI:

Denied weight loss

Abdomen: abdomen soft, non tender

hepatomegaly: nil

splenomegaly: nil

Ascites: nil

Bowel sounds: present and normal

No palpable bladder.

RS

Rate: 14

Inspection: o

Trachea: central

Chest expansion: normal

Tactile vocal fremitus: normal

Percussion: normal

Breath sounds: Scattered crackles bilaterally

Vocal resonance: normal

PR exam:

n/a

CVS

JVP normal,

carotid pulse: 59 regular

apex beat: apex in 5th intercostal space MC line

Heart sounds: I + II + o

Oedema: o

Peripheral Pulses: normal radial, brachial, carotid, dorsalis pedis

Breasts:

nil

CNS:

GCS 15/15

GU

nil

Vaginal exam:

n/a

Urinalysis:

n/a

MSS

Pain on moving L lower limb

Power 5/5 all others

Investigations

Blood Test

Result

Normal Range

FBC:

RCC

Haematocrit

MCV

WBCC

Platelets

Neutrophils

11.2

6.7

343

13-18g/dl

3.9-5.6×1012

0.35-.5

79-100fl

4-11x109fL

150-400x109L

1.5-7.5 x109L

LFT

bilirubin

alk phos

G GT

AST

ALT

total protein

albumin

globulin

3-17umol/L

33-221iu/L

8-60

3-35iu/L

62-82g/L

37-50g/L

21-35g/L

U&Es:

urea

creatinine

sodium

potassium

chloride

bicarbonate

5.9

136

2.5-7.5 mmol/L

44-80umol/L

135-145 mmol/L

3.5-5.0 mmol/L

97-107 mmol/L

23-30

Glucose

(3.5-5.5 mmol/L)

CRP

199

2-10mg/L

Bone

APhos

Calcium

Phosphate

ECG:

Inverted T-waves, Sinus bradycardia

CXR:

R upper zone opacification, suspected tumour + infection

CT Scan:

Appearance consistent with primary carcinoma, density 3.1×2.5

Plan:

L hip replacement

Investigation of R upper lung opacity

Bronchoscopy + biopsy for confirmation

Consider a rail for the steps outside her home

Diagnosis

Left neck of femur fracture

Potential primary lung tumour

Reflective Commentary

I feel like AM was an interesting case for GMC themes 3 and 4 because she presented with an obvious fracture but had an underlying potential carcinoma too.

Clinical and practical skills

She was a useful patient in that I was able to see a variety skills implemented to help diagnose her. When she presented in emergency she first underwent a hip examination and then had standard clinical examinations afterwards.

The object of a hip examination is to look for pathology of the joint. The examination is purely physical. The exam itself is divided into 5 parts looking at position, inspection, palpation, motion and special manoeuvres. In layman’s terms it is split into look, feel and move.

Position is important as the patient must be lying flat and hands must remain by their sides with the head resting on the pillow. The knees and the hips should be resting naturally in the anatomical position. If possible the patient should be standing when being inspected. Obviously AM was unable to test gait but we look for antalgic gait in those out with the acute setting. The hip is then examined for masses, scars, lesions, trauma, surgery, bone alignment, muscle bulk and symmetry at the hip and knee. AMs leg was shortened and in external rotation. An example is shown below:

http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/firstaid/images/pics-firstaid/fxhip.jpg

Palpation merely involves testing pain over the ischial spines and the pubic rami. Movement is tested by examining the normal leg first and then the affected leg. The examiner will put the leg through various movements testing for pain or resistance. The movements tested are internal rotation, external rotation, flexion extension, abduction, adduction, assessment for flexion contracture. Finally the examiner will do a Trendelenburgs test. The patient is asked to raise one leg and if the test is positive the hip on the raised side drops. This is suggestive of weakness of the abductors of the other hip. A knee examination is often performed out with the acute setting looking for ipsilateral knee pathology.

Because AM also had syncope it was important to do full examinations of the other systems too. I feel that this was an excellent opportunity to revise prior knowledge of basic examination techniques. The most important finding in her examination (hip exam aside) was the discovery of basal crackles and the productive cough. Since she was a long term smoker bronchial carcinoma should be high up on the list of diagnosis to rule out. After examining her blood results it was clear that something wasn’t right. Coupled with the fact she had weight loss she also had a low Hb as well as a very high CRP. Given that on her X-Ray and CT there was clear right upper lung opacity it is important to consider bronchial carcinoma as high up on the list of differential diagnosis.

Communication skills

AM was an interesting case from the perspective of communication skills as she was clearly in denial about the possibility of having lung cancer. When asked about how she felt about it she said she really did not think it was anything worth worrying about. I was not in a position to break bad news but I feel for the Dr who is, it would be a difficult challenge. The communication issues we have to address here are that before the fracture she felt she was completely fine. After injuring herself she now has a fracture and is being told she might have cancer. It is possible to assume that she may be going through the five stages of grief:

Denial

Anger

Bargaining

Depression

Acceptance

Through denial she is avoiding the implication that she is facing a life threatening condition. It is possible to avoid the 3 stages between denial and acceptance but this is only possible with good support from both family, councillors and the health care team around her.

Treatment of the fractured neck of femur

Treatment of the neck of fracture need input from several medical disciplines including the emergency services, departments of radiology, anaesthetics, orthopaedics, medicine and rehabilitation services. It also may require the use of social services as well such as in the case of AM. It might be wise to consider a rail for the 15 steps outside her house as well as arrange gritting to prevent ice in the winter.

Hip fractures are treated operatively either by open reduction and internal fixation (dynamic hip screw), or by a hip replacement (hemiarthroplasty). Some hip fractures are still treated by traction.

Dynamic Hip Screw

http://www.wheelessonline.com/images/i1/subtt3.jpg

Hemiarthroplasty

http://www.gentili.net/thr/images/t350/021-2Garden-IV-fx-tx’ed-w-b.jpg

Total Hip Replacement

http://www.bodyinmotion.co.uk/home/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/total-hip-replacement.jpg

Summary of care components

After admission:

Pain relief

Fluid replacement if necessary

Monitoring of fluid balance

Assessment of associated injuries and other conditions

Ward:

Help with eating post operatively

Nutritional support

Thromboembolic prophylaxis

Surgery

Surgery within 48 hours

Pre op antibiotic prophylaxis

Post op supplementary oxygen

After surgery

Mobilisation as soon as possible

Early rehabilitation and plans for discharge

Summary

AM was all round a very interesting case as she had many interesting issues to think about. She was an elderly lady who had fractured her femur during a syncopal episode who then turns out to have possible lung cancer. She was also clearly in denial about the possibility of having lung cancer. In the end the path was clear for the clinicians and surgeons to follow. She had to have surgery for her fracture and then the causes of her other problems must be identified. In due course the challenge of this ladies diagnosis will be unravelled and all her issues treated accordingly.

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