A PENSIONER died of complications while undergoing a hip operation after a fall at her nursing home.

Elsie Cox, 79, who lived at the Alliance Care Home, Consett, was taken to Dryburn Hospital, Durham, after fracturing her left femur last month.

Surgeons decided to replace the ball at the head of the femur with a metal implant but while on the operating table she suffered an embolism in her lungs that caused her heart and respiratory system to fail.

Dr Douglas Maloney, a pathologist based at the hospital, told an inquest that the embolism was caused by air and tiny particles of bone marrow getting into her blood system and becoming trapped in the tiny vessels in her lungs.

"It is recognised but it is a very uncommon occurrence. It happens out of the blue - there is no warning it is going to happen,'' he said.

"This complication can happen in a young, fit person.''

Orthopaedic registrar Dr Stephen Green, who carried out the surgery, said: "The technique I used is a well established technique and involves taking all the measures possible to ensure the longer term success of the implant and the operation.''

The inquest heard surgery had been postponed by a day but consultant orthopaedic surgeon Robert Gregory said: "The outcome would almost certainly have been the same.''

North Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle recorded a verdict of accidental death, saying he was satisfied that the fall at the home led to Mrs Cox's death.