Although senile ecchymoses are a well-recognized phenomenon on hospital wards, in patients who die in other settings they may be wrongly interpreted as bruising caused by physical assault. Therefore, we studied a total of 410 elderly (> 50 years of age) patients by a prospective examination of autopsy reports to elucidate their nature, including their general frequency, their anatomical distribution, and their physical appearance. We found a clear association with increasing age and a common distribution on the arms, rather than the neck or legs. One unique finding is that ecchymoses are related to place of residence, in that less mobile elderly persons are more likely to develop this condition, possibly as a result of lifting.
Aged Aged, 80 and over