Question

Which of the following places the patient at high risk for hip fracture? Select all

A- pt is male age 24
B- pt has osteoporosis
C- pt has low levels of calcium and vitamin D
D- pt is female aged 78

Answer 1

Patients at high risk for hip fractures include those who are older, have osteoporosis, and suffer from calcium and vitamin D deficiencies. Females aged 78, patients with osteoporosis, and those with nutritional deficiencies are at particularly high risk, but a healthy 24-year-old male is not typically at high risk.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patients at high risk for a hip fracture include those with risk factors such as older age, female sex, osteoporosis, and deficiencies in calcium and vitamin D. Specifically, options B (a patient who has osteoporosis), C (a patient with low levels of calcium and vitamin D), and D (a female patient aged 78) place the patient at high risk for a hip fracture. The option A (a male patient age 24) does not typically fall under the high-risk category unless other risk factors are present.

Osteoporotic fractures are significantly dangerous because they can lead to debilitating pain, disability, and even early mortality among the elderly. Furthermore, complications that arise after hip fractures, such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and pneumonia, significantly increase morbidity and mortality rates. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and manage risk factors for osteoporosis to prevent these serious outcomes.