TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2006//
TI  - A simple fall in the elderly: not so simple
JO  - Journal of trauma
A1  - Bergeron, Eric
A1  - Clement, Julien
A1  - Lavoie, Andre
A1  - Ratte, Sebastien
A1  - Bamvita, Jean-Marie
A1  - Aumont, Francois
A1  - Clas, David
SP  - 268
EP  - 273
VL  - 60
IS  - 2
N2  - BACKGROUND:: The goal of this study was to evaluate the burden of falls in the elderly in a Canadian tertiary trauma center. METHODS:: Patients admitted to Charles-LeMoyne Hospital with a low velocity fall (LVF) from April 1, 1993 to March 31, 2000 were individually reviewed. Elderly was defined as age 65 years and older. A region was considered to be injured if Abbreviated Injury Scale was greater than or equal to 2. RESULTS:: There were 2,333 patients with LVF, 41.4% of all blunt trauma admissions. Median Injury Severity Score was 9 for elderly compared with 5 for young (p < 0.001). Injuries were significantly more frequent to head, face, thorax, and lower limbs in the elderly. Mortality (13.4% versus 0.9%; p < 0.001), length of stay (median = 15 versus 3 days; p < 0.001) and long-term care facility reference (19.3% versus 1.1%, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the elderly. CONCLUSIONS:: LVF is a frequent cause of admission for trauma in the elderly. Despite the apparent benign nature of the mechanism, LVF is associated with more severe injuries and worse outcome.
LA  - 
SN  - 0022-5282
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.ta.0000197651.00482.c5
ID  - ref1
ER  -