Authors: James Condren / Editor: Steve Corry-Bass / Reviewer: Ciaran Mackle / Codes: / Published: 23/06/2020
A 79-year-old woman presents to the Emergency Department (ED) with a four day history of worsening non-traumatic left hip pain and is now unable to bear weight on the affected side. She has had associated fevers and rigors but denies any other symptoms.
Her past medical history includes Atrial Fibrillation and a wide local excision and radiotherapy for breast cancer many years ago.
On examination, she is unable to bear weight, is tender over her left inguinal ligament and has reduced range of movement in all planes due to pain. There is no focal bony tenderness, no cellulitic changes and no difference in limb length or circumference.
Observations are normal and she is afebrile.
Her admission bloods are grossly unremarkable with the exception of a CRP of 340mg/L (normal <5mg/L).
XR of her left hip shows chronic degenerative change but no acute abnormality.
Despite adequate analgesia, she remains unable to weight bear.
9 Comments
Good case