Inquest into the death of Isabelle Manyita

31y · Female·Septicaemia following Acute Osteomyelitis following Fractures of the Left Leg

Isabelle Manyita, a 31-year-old Aboriginal woman, died from septicaemia following acute osteomyelitis complicating fractures of her left leg. She presented to Royal Darwin Hospital on 22 April 2005 with a tibial and fibular fracture, was treated appropriately with plaster immobilisation, and discharged with a management plan and fracture clinic follow-up appointment. However, she failed to attend the clinic appointment and remained at home with poor hygiene conditions and inadequate wound care. Septicaemia developed within days, progressing rapidly to her death on 28 April. The coroner found the initial clinical assessment and treatment timely and appropriate. The death was not preventable through better medical management at the initial presentation, as septicaemia onset was rapid and occurred after discharge, likely due to poor home hygiene and wound management.