Orthopedic Surgeon Orders Fall Precautions After Patient’s Accident

Case Overview

This defense case involves a sixty-two-year-old male patient who underwent a left hip arthroplasty. On postoperative day three, prior to transfer to a step-down facility, the patient alleged that he fell when walking to the restroom. The nurse charted and maintained that the patient never fell but, instead, that he became weak between the bathroom and bed and was gently guided to the floor. The physician was informed of the incident and told the nurse to let the receiving facility know that fall precautions were necessary. The patient was transferred to a long-term care facility for rehabilitation and complained of pain for the following three days. He was then transferred back to the hospital, where X-rays revealed dislocation of the new, prosthetic hip. A closed reduction was performed to place the man’s hip back into place.