Unexplained Fractures in Nursing Homes—How Attorneys Investigate
When families learn that a loved one in a nursing home has suffered a broken bone, the first question is often: How did this happen? While some fractures may result from legitimate medical conditions such as osteoporosis, many unexplained fractures raise serious concerns about neglect, abuse, or inadequate supervision.
For attorneys, these cases require a deep dive into medical records, care plans, and incident reports to determine whether the injury was unavoidable—or evidence of negligence. At Lexcura Summit Medical-Legal Consulting, we provide litigation-ready support to strengthen these investigations.
Why Unexplained Fractures Raise Red Flags
Fractures in elderly residents are rarely minor. A hip or femur break can lead to permanent disability, loss of mobility, or even wrongful death. When a nursing home cannot provide a clear explanation for how an injury occurred, it may signal:
Poor supervision of high-risk residents
Failure to implement fall prevention protocols
Unreported accidents or undocumented falls
Physical abuse or rough handling by staff
Failure to monitor residents on sedating medications
In many cases, the absence of proper documentation is itself an indicator of negligence.
Medical and Legal Complexities
Unexplained fracture cases often involve multiple layers of investigation:
Medical Record Review – Attorneys look for inconsistencies in charting, gaps in nursing notes, or missing incident reports.
Radiology and Imaging – X-rays and CT scans can help establish timelines for when the injury likely occurred.
Medication Review – Sedatives or antipsychotics may contribute to falls and must be documented.
Witness Interviews – Staff depositions and family observations may uncover discrepancies in the facility’s account.
Osteoporosis vs. Trauma – Attorneys must differentiate between bone fragility from disease versus trauma from neglect or abuse.
Liability in Fracture Cases
Nursing homes are responsible for creating and following individualized fall prevention care plans. When fractures occur without explanation, attorneys may argue that the facility:
Failed to assess fall risk properly
Did not provide adequate staffing or supervision
Ignored physician orders for assistive devices or monitoring
Failed to report and investigate injuries promptly
In some cases, liability may extend to individual staff members, physicians, or even corporate ownership for systemic neglect.
How Lexcura Summit Strengthens These Cases
Our team of over 200 board-certified clinicians provides attorneys with comprehensive support in unexplained fracture cases, including:
Medical Chronologies – Reconstructing care timelines and identifying missed interventions.
Narrative Summaries – Explaining how injuries could have been prevented and where care fell below standards.
Life Care Plans – Outlining long-term needs for residents left permanently disabled by fractures.
Expert Reviews – Evaluating whether osteoporosis or negligence was the primary factor.
Rebuttal & Defense Reports – Supporting both plaintiff and defense teams in complex cases.
All services are delivered within 7 days (rush in 2–3), nationwide, and through a fully HIPAA-compliant process.
Key Takeaways
Unexplained fractures in nursing homes should never be dismissed—they may signal neglect or abuse.
Attorneys must investigate medical records, fall risk assessments, and staff practices to establish liability.
Lexcura Summit supports attorneys with chronologies, summaries, and life care plans that make the case clear.
Contact Lexcura Summit
If you’re handling a nursing home fracture or elder abuse case, our experts can help uncover the truth.
Lexcura Summit Medical-Legal Consulting, LLC
📞 (352) 703-0703
🌐 www.lexcura-summit.com
