Battered granny or spontaneous fractures? A legal dilemma.

Connolly, V; McConnell, A A; McGarrity, G · Postgrad Med J · 1995

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

A 70-year-old woman was admitted from a local nursing home with extensive bruising and bilateral hip discomfort. The referring doctor had reported the possibility of elder abuse to the police. Full examination showed that osteomalacia, precipitated by a poor diet and lack of exposure to sunlight, was sufficient to explain the patient's condition. Caution is recommended in diagnosing elder abuse until other possibilities have been excluded.

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