Fall Injuries in the Elderly
Clinics in Geriatric MedicinePublished 1 August 1985
Susan P. Baker, Ann Hall Harvey
Citations428
SJR quartileQ2
SJR score1.03
SNIP1.07
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TL;DR
The patterns of reduction of injury and mortality in the past two decades are likely to have been the result of the medical and trauma care system's impact on the outcome of less severe injuries.
Abstract
Injuries are the sixth leading cause of death in the 75-and-over population, with falls the leading cause of injury-related deaths. Hospitals and residential centers for the elderly have high rates of falls and injuries. With increasing age, patients in nursing homes have a corresponding increase in the proportion of fatal falls. The patterns of reduction of injury and mortality in the past two decades are likely to have been the result of our medical and trauma care system's impact on the outcome of less severe injuries. Major improvements in the future will come through prevention.
Keywords
MedicineHealth Professions
Age and AgeingA LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF FALLS IN AN ELDERLY POPULATION: I. INCIDENCE AND MORBIDITY
380 Citations1977C. I. Gryfe, A. AMIES +1 more
Falls among the elderly, although associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, have not been previously the subject of a longitudinal study, and there appeared in some to be a 'clustering' of falls prior to death.
American Journal of Public HealthNortheastern Ohio Trauma Study: II. Injury rates by age, sex, and cause.
195 Citations1984Daniel Fife, J.I. Barancik +1 more
Using a 1977 sample of emergency department visits in five northeastern Ohio counties, population-based injury rates are tabulated by age, sex, and cause and case fatality ratios are estimated.
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106 Citations1978Julian A. Waller
The data do not support the hypothesis that falls of the elderly commonly occur because of fractures of hips or vertebrae, but they do suggest that brittleness of bone, small muscle mass or both are substantial contributors to fractures in the elderly once the fall has been initiated.
Journal of the American Geriatrics SocietyDetrimental Incidents, Including Falls, in an Elderly Institutional Population
100 Citations1981GLENICE BERRY, Rory H. Fisher +1 more
In a Canadian geriatric hospital, the report forms on the 2,177 untoward incidents occurring during the 1976–78 period were analyzed and it was found that falls were the most common incident and mortality and serious morbidity were low.
BMJNocturnal femoral fracture and continuing widespread use of barbiturate hypnotics.
86 Citations1977James B. Macdonald, Erika MacDonald
A survey of 390 patients aged over 65 with fractured femurs showed that nearly all the fractures that had been caused by nocturnal falls had occurred among the many patients who were still taking barbiturate hypnotics.
Journal of Gerontological NursingPATIENT FALLS ARE NOT PATIENT ACCIDENTS
68 Citations1983Ellen B Barbieri
Lara D. VeekenDESCRIPTION, CLASSIFICATION AND PREVENTION OF FALLS IN OLD PEOPLE AT HOME
67 Citations1981Deidre Wild, U. S. Nayak +1 more
One hundred and twenty-five people aged 65 and over who reported to their doctors that they had suffered falls at home were seen shortly after the fall by a research nurse who obtained a detailed history, which led to a classification of falls based on the nature of the displacing force.
Journal of the American Geriatrics SocietyFalls in the Institutionalized Elderly*
67 Citations1978Thomas Kalchthaler, R. A. BASCON +1 more
Most accidents occurred at the bedside during the evenings and nights, with the greatest frequency during the changes in nursing shifts or when the patient was either rising or retiring.
Archives of General PsychiatryA Model of Risk of Falling for Psychogeriatric Patients
58 Citations1981James W. Davie
Journal of the American Geriatrics SocietyAn Evaluation of Falls, Syncope, and Dizziness by Prolonged Ambulatory Cardiographic Monitoring in a Geriatric Institutional Setting
44 Citations1982Michael Gordon, Michael Huang +1 more
The value of the AHM for use in managing elderly patients, whose cardiac complaints may be vague, and especially in managing those who have sustained falls, is emphasized.
Journal of the American Geriatrics SocietyOccult Cardiac Arrhythmias Associated with Falls and Dizziness in the Elderly: Detection by Holter Monitoring
27 Citations1978Michael Gordon
Sixteen elderly patients with occult cardiac arrhythmias presented with signs of neurologic dysfunction that often had led to traumatic falls and Holter electrocardiographic monitoring was a valuable tool in defining the arrhythmia for which specific treatment was successful.
The British Journal of PsychiatryAccidents and Drug Treatment in a Psychiatric Hospital
21 Citations1975Brian R. Ballinger, Anna C. Ramsay
A survey of 351 accidents occurring in a two-year period in a psychiatric hospital showed that 77 per cent of the accidents involved female patients and 48 per cent involved patients with organic psychoses; 236 accidents were falls and 280 occurred in the ward setting.
Journal of GerontologyEpidemiological Study of Accidents Among Residents of Homes for the Aged
21 Citations1970I Margulec, G. Librach +1 more
Journal of Safety ResearchA case control study of falling incidents among the hospitalized elderly
18 Citations1983Gary S. Sorock
It was concluded that some patients may have a greater tendency to fall than others and suggestions for exploring future means of prevention are presented.
Journal of the American Geriatrics SocietyInterrelations of the Aging Process and Accidents*
7 Citations1972Manuel Rodstein
The various aspects discussed include intellectual function, memory, orientation, tremor, acrophobia, gait, hypo‐hyperkinesia, muscle weakness, homeostasis, orthostatic hypotension, visual and auditory acuity, osteoporosis and fractures.
Journal of the American Geriatrics SocietyAccident—or Apparent Accident*
2 Citations1972William H. Wehrmacher
If the cardiac disturbance can be detected early enough, the potential accident victim can be withdrawn from peril and the old person may retain the personal ability to deal with hazards.