Man died after fall, Shrewsbury inquest hears
An elderly man died as a result of a fall in his home and not due to the standard of care at a hospital, a coroner has concluded.
Alec Arthur Parton, 84, suffered a fall at his home in Stanley Green, Whixall, Whitchurch on February 14 this year and was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
He spent more than ten days at the hospital, and died on February 25.
At his inquest on Wednesday, Shropshire Coroner John Ellery concluded that Mr Parton had died of cervical spinal injury and a head injury, caused by a mechanical fall.
Scans
Mr Ellery said the inquest was to find whether Mr Parton's injuries were survivable or not, after contrasting reports from orthopaedic surgeon, Mr David Ford, and pathologist Dr Manel Mangalika.
Friends and family of Mr Parton had also raised concerns about whether he should have been put in a neck brace, and whether scans of his injuries should have taken place earlier.
Originally, Dr Mangalika had recorded a cause of death as spinal and head injuries caused by a fall, but said the injuries were survivable as a fracture to the spine had not displaced anything.
However giving evidence at the inquest, she said after more research she realised the fracture could have caused secondary injuries, and obstructed the bloody supply to the spinal cord.
Mr Ford, who has worked at the hospital for over 20 years, explained that the fracture, which was C3 fracture, was a stable one.
However when the injury was suffered Mr Parton would have jolted, causing the spinal cord to 'nip' and bruise.
He explained how the spinal canal is narrow, and the bruising would cause bleeding and the blood vessels to swell.
Lessons
The family had questioned whether a neck brace should have been used, but he explained they wouldn't use any form of brace or inmobilisation, and said if they did it would have 'been a death sentence'.
He explained how CT and an MRI scan should have been called for sooner, but it would not have changed the outcome. However he admitted when questioned by the coroner that it would have managed the family and friends' expectations.
Solicitor for the council, Soraya Maschadi, said the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust will review the case and will be learning lessons regarding the scans.
