An elderly female with osteoporosis is at the risk of which of these complications?

Daman & Diu Staff Nurse - 2018

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: Daman & Diu Staff Nurse - 2018

Explanation

Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become weak, porous, and brittle.
The most direct and serious clinical complication of this bone fragility is an increased risk of fractures.
These are often called 'fragility fractures' because they can occur from a minor fall or even from simple stresses like bending over or coughing.
Common sites for these fractures include the hip, spine (vertebrae), and wrist, leading to significant morbidity and mortality.

Option A: This is a primary cause of postmenopausal osteoporosis, not a complication. Estrogen helps maintain bone density, and its decline after menopause accelerates bone loss.
Option C: This (kyphosis) is a physical sign or deformity that results from multiple compression fractures in the vertebrae. It is a consequence of the fractures, not the primary complication itself.
Option D: This is a pathophysiological factor that contributes to the development or worsening of osteoporosis. It is part of the disease process (a cause), not a resulting complication.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Complications of Osteoporosis as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a key role in identifying at-risk patients, educating them about diet (calcium, vitamin D) and weight-bearing exercise.
A primary nursing responsibility is implementing fall prevention strategies to protect patients from fractures. This includes environmental safety checks and patient education.
What if? If the patient also had a history of long-term corticosteroid use, the risk of fracture would be even higher, as this is a major cause of secondary osteoporosis. Nursing vigilance for safety would be paramount.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it asks for a 'complication' of osteoporosis.
Analyze each option to determine its relationship to the disease process.
Differentiate between causes (factors that lead to the disease), signs (physical manifestations), and complications (harmful results of the disease).
Recognize that 'loss of estrogen' and 'negative calcium balance' are causes or contributing factors.
Understand that 'Dowager's hump' is a specific sign resulting from vertebral fractures.
Conclude that 'bone fracture' is the direct, primary complication from which other issues like pain, deformity, and disability arise.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Complications of Osteoporosis
Stem keywords: osteoporosis, elderly female, complications, risk
Lead-in keywords: which of these
Clinical cues: The patient profile 'elderly female' points towards postmenopausal osteoporosis, the most common type, where fracture risk is a primary concern.
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Gynecology Williams p. 72-95

E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 1064-1066