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Falls and Fractures in Seniors: Research Insights

Discover key findings on senior falls and fractures, including statistics, common fracture sites, diagnosing tools, and treatment principles. Learn how to prevent, identify, and manage these critical health issues.

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Falls and Fractures in Seniors: Research Insights

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  1. "Rattle My Bones" Falls & Fractures in Seniors Information Session

  2. What research tells us: • In people over 65 years old, falls cause more deaths than pneumonia or diabetes. • The average stay for seniors who are hospitalized for a fall = 43 days Vs 25 days for those who are not. • 8 – 40% of falls occurring in he community result in fractures.

  3. FALLS :Research has shown • 1/3 of seniors living at home report a fall or a tendency to fall. • Up to 20% of hospitalized patients and 45% of residents living in a long-term facility fall at sometime during their stay. * many falls go unreported. Most fractures result from low-energy trauma occurring by a fall on level ground.

  4. Accidental injury is the 6th leading cause of death in seniors over 75 years of age. Falls represent the most common cause of accidental death 70%. 40% of falls in women, over 75, result in fractures Vs 27% in men due mostly to osteoporosis. Hip fractures are the most common “fall related” injury that leads to hospitalization. Facts on Falls

  5. (6) COMMON FRACTURE SITES IN SENIORS: Vertebrae Hip

  6. 40 year old woman’s response mechanism to a fall Birth of a hip fracture • 80 year old woman’s response mechanism to a fall

  7. (6) COMMON FRACTURE SITES IN SENIORS: Humerus Wrist Tibia Pubis

  8. (6) COMMON FRACTURE SITES IN SENIORS: Pubis Tibia

  9. DIAGNOSING TOOLS: 1) Routine X-ray: • Should always include a front, back and side view (AP and lateral view) • A single view might miss something because of overlap

  10. DIAGNOSING TOOLS: 2) CT scan: (computerized tomography) • useful addition to X-rays since they X-ray in one direction and in slices

  11. DIAGNOSING TOOLS: 3) Bone scan: • Can reveal fractures not yet detectable on plain X-ray • Often used in cases of suspected pathological fractures (Definition: bone that is already weakened by another disease)

  12. DIAGNOSING TOOLS: 4) Blood tests: • Hematocrit (Hct) often carried out following a in major fracture (i.e. hip) to measure amount of blood loss. • Normal:Male: 45 - 62% Female: 37 - 48% • A decrease of 3ml = a blood loss of approximately 500ml (1 unit).

  13. If you suspect a fracture:Treatment Principles Initial Immobilization: • prevents further damage • aids in transport • relieves pain Splint them where they lie • use newspapers, magazines, pillows, scarves, neck ties, belts…things around the house

  14. Wrist Fracture Ankle Fracture 14

  15. Splinting common fractures # of the Humerus Finger #’s Remember to remove rings 15

  16. Splinting for a fractured collar bone

  17. Casts: • Use to control and maintain alignment while the fracture heals. • If it becomes wet inside (the underlying padding) then cast must be changed to prevent skin breakdown

  18. Traction:

  19. Hip Surgery

  20. Thank you

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