Episodic cardiac arrhythmia and femoral neck fracture.
Fifty-eight consecutive patients admitted to hospital for fracture of the upper end of the femur were examined by continuous ECG monitoring for 22--24 hours. More than one third of the patients had occult, previously unknown episodic arrhythmias severe enough to cause dizzy spells and syncope. These patients had more often a history of dizziness and syncope and could less frequently than patients without serious arrhythmias return to their homes at the time of discharge despite uncomplicated fracture treatment.
D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications*; D004244:Dizziness / Q000150:complications; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013575:Syncope / Q000150:complications