The fractured spine of an elderly woman who fell down the stairs was not identified by X-ray for 3½ weeks because of a degenerative disease, an inquest has heard.
Ethel Maguire (88), Raven Terrace, Galway, died at the Mater hospital on October 27th, 2005, Dublin City Coroner's Court heard yesterday. She had fallen on September 14th.
Ms Maguire was brought to University College Hospital Galway after she fell down a flight of stairs after she got out of an electric chairlift. She tried to walk in hospital because an initial X-ray did not confirm the fracture. An X-ray the next day at UCHG did not identify the fractured spine.
"There was a difficulty in interpreting the radiograph because of degenerative changes and osteoarthritis," coroner Dr Brian Farrell said.
Ms Maguire was transferred to the Mater and an MRI scan on October 7th identified the fracture.
Dr Farrell recorded a verdict of accidental death.