Cervical Myelopathy in Hip Fracture Patients
Indiana University
Summary
Recent evidence has demonstrated a high rate of undiagnosed cervical myelopathy in patients presenting with hip fractures from a ground level fall. Identification and treatment of cervical myelopathy can help prevent falls and future fragility fractures. The purpose of this study is to screen ground level fall hip fracture patients for cervical myelopathy using a history, physical exam, and then offer an MRI if indicated.
Description
Cervical myelopathy is compression of the cervical spinal cord which causes many things, but a common and prominent symptom is poor coordination/balance. This has been shown in multiple high quality studies to increase a patient's risk of falls as well as fragility fractures (such as hip fractures). Often, patients with hip fractures present with multiple falls of unknown origin. Work up from an orthopedic perspective is rare, but our medicine colleagues spend a substantial amount of resources to identify a cause (carotid ultrasound, head CT, EKG, echo, labs, etc.). This is because hip fractur…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 50+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Patient admitted to Eskenazi, Methodist, or IU North hospital for a hip fracture (femoral neck, intertrochanteric, subtrochanteric, or pertrochanteric fracture) that was caused by a ground level fall. Exclusion Criteria: * Neurologic or cognitive disorder explaining the fall (dementia, Parkinson's disease, delirium, etc.) * Syncopal fall or fall caused by stroke or a heart condition
Interventions
- Diagnostic TestCervical MRI
Participants whose history and physical exam indicate signs or symptoms of cervical myelopathy will be scheduled for a cervical MRI.
- OtherHistory & Physical Exam
A history and physical exam to evaluate for specific signs and symptoms of cervical myelopathy will be performed.
Locations (3)
- Indiana University North HospitalFishers, Indiana
- Eskenazi HospitalIndianapolis, Indiana
- Indiana University Health Methodist HospitalIndianapolis, Indiana