Introduction
  Evaluation
  Short of breath
  Too tired
  The dwindles
  Weight loss
  Healing
  Chemotherapy
  Mom to be
  Very sociable
 
   Thanks To
   Quiz
 
 
 
 Mark W. Braun, MD
 braunm@indiana.edu

 
   Nutrition and Diagnosis-Related Care

 

 
 


Uraug (Homo sapiens neanderthalensis), age 25, was one of eighteen in his tribe, living in what today is central France.

It's spring in the year 81,246 bce.

Uraug was injured in a hunting accident several months ago.

  • He sustained a fracture of his 9th thoracic vertebra,

    • Resulting in compression of his spinal cord.

    • He never walked again.

    • Fortunately for Uraug, his bowel and bladder function was not affected.

  • Revered by his tribe, Uraug was not left to die, rather he was carried on a litter as they migrated within their home range.

  • Now restricted to sitting and supine positioning, Uraug developed a sacral decubitus.

Before his injury, Uraug was in quite good health. Apart from several broken teeth and non-displaced fracture of his left humerus (another hunting accident at age 18), he had come into middle age rather uneventfully.

  • He is 5' 6" tall and now weighs 150 pounds, down from 160 prior to the accident.

  • He is paraplegic, with an infected sacral decubitus

    • He has a low grade fever.

  • There is generalized atrophy of his leg musculature bilaterally.

  • His upper body strength is good, which allows him to continue to make stone tools and help process food and animal hides.

  • Here's his SGA form.

Wound healing greatly increases a person's nutritional needs.

 
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