Haemothorax and Thoracic Spine Fractures in the Elderly

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: Michael A. Masteller, Aakash Chauhan, Harsha Musunuru, Mark M. Walsh, Bryan Boyer, Joseph A. Prahlow
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2012-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Radiology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/162064
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spelling doaj-d126c90319ea452796a9ae6cab5e93e52020-11-24T23:02:54ZengHindawi LimitedCase 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
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Michael A. Masteller
Aakash Chauhan
Harsha Musunuru
Mark M. Walsh
Bryan Boyer
Joseph A. Prahlow
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
author_facet Michael A. Masteller
Aakash Chauhan
Harsha Musunuru
Mark M. Walsh
Bryan Boyer
Joseph A. Prahlow
author_sort Michael A. Masteller
title Haemothorax and Thoracic Spine Fractures in the Elderly
title_short 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_sort haemothorax and thoracic spine fractures in the elderly
publisher Hindawi Limited
series Case Reports in Radiology
issn 2090-6862
2090-6870
publishDate 2012-01-01
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.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/162064
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AT harshamusunuru haemothoraxandthoracicspinefracturesintheelderly
AT markmwalsh haemothoraxandthoracicspinefracturesintheelderly
AT bryanboyer haemothoraxandthoracicspinefracturesintheelderly
AT josephaprahlow haemothoraxandthoracicspinefracturesintheelderly
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