Don’t stick your neck out

Author: Joanna Lumb / Editor: Sarah Edwards / Codes: ELC5, ELP3, ELP5, RP4, SLO4, TP2 / Published: 25/03/2022

An 80-year-old female presents having fallen backwards down 7 steps.

She reports the feeling of “not being able to move her right leg” before losing balance and falling backwards. She is complaining of pain “all over” and is groaning. She also reports pain in her neck, and states she can’t feel or move her arms. However, she can move her legs. She has been triple immobilised by the ambulance crew before reaching the department

PMH: diabetes, previous CVA

DH: NKDA. Atorvastatin, bisoprolol, clopidogrel, metformin

SH: lives with family, independently mobile, no carers.