Consequences of a long lie in the elderly: A case report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58814/01208845.545Keywords:
Accidental Falls, Hip Fractures, Rhabdomyolysis, Acute Kidney Injury, Elderly, Case ReportsAbstract
Introduction. Falls are common among older adults. Although there is no consensus regarding the concept of a "Long Lie," it has been reported that older adults who spend a prolonged period on the floor (>1 hour) following a fall may suffer adverse effects such as hypothermia, skin injuries, rhabdomyolysis, infections, and acute kidney injury (AKI).
Case Presentation. An older adult woman suffered a fall while exiting the bathroom and remained on the floor for approximately one hour before receiving assistance. On arrival at the emergency room of a tertiary-care hospital in Cali (Colombia), she reported severe pain in her left hip and wrist; she was diagnosed with a left periprosthetic hip fracture and a distal metaphyseal fracture of the left radius and ulna. During hospitalization, complications associated with her prolonged time on the floor were identified: dehydration, rhabdomyolysis, AKI, a urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by Escherichia coli, and a pressure ulcer. A multidisciplinary management was implemented (including intravenous rehydration, pain control, orthopedic surgery, antibiotic therapy, and treatment of the skin injury). Given her favorable clinical course, she was discharged with a plan for analgesia and osteoporosis treatment, physical rehabilitation, nutritional recovery, and fall-prevention measures.
Conclusion. We report the case of an older adult woman who, in addition to suffering the direct consequences of a fall, developed complications resulting from remaining on the floor for a prolonged period (dehydration, pressure ulcer, rhabdomyolysis, UTI, and AKI). Prompt multidisciplinary care may support favorable outcomes.
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