Deceased
White-Wolf Patricia McLellan
Demographics
44y, female
Coroner
Coroner Audrey Jamieson
Date of death
2025-06-09
Finding date
2026-04-17
Cause of death
Pulmonary thromboembolism complicating a fractured left ankle (not operated), sustained in a fall
AI-generated summary
A 44-year-old woman died from pulmonary thromboembolism 27 days after sustaining a Weber B ankle fracture from a fall. She was managed conservatively with a CAM boot then below-knee cast, with progressive immobilisation leading to bedbound status. No VTE risk assessment was documented at initial ED presentation or fracture clinic follow-up despite changed immobilisation level. The coroner found that while an opportunity to assess VTE risk was missed, risk assessment tools available at the time would not have predicted PE or altered management. The case highlights a gap in guidelines for VTE prophylaxis in non-hospitalised patients with lower limb immobilisation. No individual clinician failures were identified. Recommendations focus on updating state and national guidelines to address VTE risk in outpatient immobilised patients.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.
Specialties
Error types
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
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