Haemothorax and Thoracic Spine Fractures in the Elderly
Both osteoporotic fractures and pleural effusions are frequently observed in medicine. However, rarely does one associate a hemorrhagic pleural effusion with a thoracic spinal fracture when the patient has not sustained massive trauma. In this paper, we discuss two cases where seemingly insignifican...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Case Reports in Radiology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/162064 |
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| _version_ | 1832567548733816832 |
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| author | Michael A. Masteller Aakash Chauhan Harsha Musunuru Mark M. Walsh Bryan Boyer Joseph A. Prahlow |
| author_facet | Michael A. Masteller Aakash Chauhan Harsha Musunuru Mark M. Walsh Bryan Boyer Joseph A. Prahlow |
| author_sort | Michael A. Masteller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Both osteoporotic fractures and pleural effusions are frequently observed in medicine. However, rarely does one associate a hemorrhagic pleural effusion with a thoracic spinal fracture when the patient has not sustained massive trauma. In this paper, we discuss two cases where seemingly insignificant low-energy trauma precipitated massive haemothoraces in elderly patients with underlying osteoporosis, ultimately resulting in their immediate causes of death. This paper serves to remind health care professionals of the importance of using caution when moving elderly patients as well as to consider thoracic spinal fracture as a potential explanation for a hemorrhagic pleural effusion of undetermined etiology. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d126c90319ea452796a9ae6cab5e93e5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-6862 2090-6870 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Reports in Radiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-d126c90319ea452796a9ae6cab5e93e52025-02-03T01:01:17ZengWileyCase Reports in Radiology2090-68622090-68702012-01-01201210.1155/2012/162064162064Haemothorax and Thoracic Spine Fractures in the ElderlyMichael A. Masteller0Aakash Chauhan1Harsha Musunuru2Mark M. Walsh3Bryan Boyer4Joseph A. Prahlow5Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend Campus, South Bend, IN 46556, USADepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, USADepartment of Emergency Medicine, Memorial Hospital of South Bend, South Bend, IN 46601, USAIndiana University School of Medicine, South Bend Campus, South Bend, IN 46556, USAMemorial Hospital of South Bend, South Bend, IN 46601, USAIndiana University School of Medicine, South Bend Campus, South Bend, IN 46556, USABoth osteoporotic fractures and pleural effusions are frequently observed in medicine. However, rarely does one associate a hemorrhagic pleural effusion with a thoracic spinal fracture when the patient has not sustained massive trauma. In this paper, we discuss two cases where seemingly insignificant low-energy trauma precipitated massive haemothoraces in elderly patients with underlying osteoporosis, ultimately resulting in their immediate causes of death. This paper serves to remind health care professionals of the importance of using caution when moving elderly patients as well as to consider thoracic spinal fracture as a potential explanation for a hemorrhagic pleural effusion of undetermined etiology.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/162064 |
| spellingShingle | Michael A. Masteller Aakash Chauhan Harsha Musunuru Mark M. Walsh Bryan Boyer Joseph A. Prahlow Haemothorax and Thoracic Spine Fractures in the Elderly Case Reports in Radiology |
| title | Haemothorax and Thoracic Spine Fractures in the Elderly |
| title_full | Haemothorax and Thoracic Spine Fractures in the Elderly |
| title_fullStr | Haemothorax and Thoracic Spine Fractures in the Elderly |
| title_full_unstemmed | Haemothorax and Thoracic Spine Fractures in the Elderly |
| title_short | Haemothorax and Thoracic Spine Fractures in the Elderly |
| title_sort | haemothorax and thoracic spine fractures in the elderly |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/162064 |
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