One of the Most Tragic and Worst Complications from a Broken Hip is Death
I recently learned that a colleague of mine, a young and vibrant practicing attorney, died from complications from a broken hip. When one typically thinks of death from a broken hip, our mind assumes more likely than not that it involves an elderly person. A hip fracture typically occurs from a trauma to the hip often resulting from a slip and fall, premises liability accident, or car accident. Many times, elderly individuals suffer from osteoporosis or a loss of calcium from the bones which makes them weak and fragile. Typically after surgical repair of a hip fracture, the patient or victim is confined to a bed and has an increased risk of death from blood clots in the legs that travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolism), pneumonia due to immobility, pressure or bed sores which can become infected, or bladder infections stemming from the catheter used to drain their urine.
The mortality following a fractured hip is between 20 and 35% within one year of patients aged 82 plus or minus seven years. Approximately 80% of those who succumb to death as a result of a hip fracture in the elderly population are women.
If a traumatic hip fracture occurs to an individual who has underlying disease or illness such as diabetes, hypertensive arterial sclerotic pulmonary disease, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the increased rates of death are even greater.
If you or a loved one has sustained a broken hip as a result of a car accident or slip and fall accident, the experienced Pennsylvania hip fracture injury lawyers of Reiff and Bily have over three decades of experience and successful track record and always offer a free, no obligation consultation toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.
