Sir, – As a consultant physician in the bone health and osteoporosis treatment unit in the Mercers Institute in St James’s Hospital, Dublin, I appeal to everyone, especially those with osteoporosis, osteopaenia or a history of fragility fractures, to be extra careful over the next week. Snow when impacted becomes ice and there will be a high incidence of broken bones over the upcoming cold spell.
The most dangerous fracture is a hip fracture and sadly up to 30 per cent of patients who suffer a hip fracture die within a year, 30 per cent are left with a disability and only 30 per cent can live at home.
If you have osteopaenia or osteoporosis please, if possible, stay indoors until the ice is fully thawed. – Yours, etc,
Prof J BERNARD WALSH,
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Bone Health
and Osteoporosis
Treatment Unit,
Mercers Institute,
St James’s Hospital,
Dublin 8.