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What Does This MRI Report Indicate?
Question: Please help me doctor...my mom is 82 years old ..today she took a hard fall on the concrete and broke her hip and leg..she has had some balance problems lately with lots of pain in the tailbone region...she was scheduled to have a appt with a neurosurgeon because after a MRI they discovered she had narrowing of the spine..and maybe a small fracture..she has been an active woman..what will thus do to her quality of life? The breaks are clean breaks...surgery is tomorrow..thanks for being here for me..you are the best! XXXX
Brief Answer:
It will be tough.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I assume by having surgery tomorrow you mean for her hip, not narrowing of the spine. Hip fracture in the elderly is a very problematic issue. That is because due to the osteoporosis which favored the fracture and their limited recovery abilities. Also the first months have a high mortality rate due to complications such as infections, blood clots, hemorrhage during the procedure.
Afterwards only about 25% of the patients who have hip fractures do return to their previous level of mobility. The fact that it is a clean fracture is certainly positive, but however the fact she has an additional leg fracture as well as the narrowing of the spine which in itself may limit mobility and slow down rehabilitation.
So it will be a tough process which require a long rehabilitation period and will probably affect her quality of life for some time. However with proper physical therapy there are patients who do slowly get back to a good quality of life.
I remain at your disposal for other question.
It will be tough.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
I assume by having surgery tomorrow you mean for her hip, not narrowing of the spine. Hip fracture in the elderly is a very problematic issue. That is because due to the osteoporosis which favored the fracture and their limited recovery abilities. Also the first months have a high mortality rate due to complications such as infections, blood clots, hemorrhage during the procedure.
Afterwards only about 25% of the patients who have hip fractures do return to their previous level of mobility. The fact that it is a clean fracture is certainly positive, but however the fact she has an additional leg fracture as well as the narrowing of the spine which in itself may limit mobility and slow down rehabilitation.
So it will be a tough process which require a long rehabilitation period and will probably affect her quality of life for some time. However with proper physical therapy there are patients who do slowly get back to a good quality of life.
I remain at your disposal for other question.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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