Article

OBJECTIVE: To describe the most common characteristics of elderly people who fell
and fractured their femoral neck and who were admitted to our rehabilitation
setting after surgery by an orthopedic surgeon. SETTING: A rehabilitation
department in a general regional hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A cohort of 100
patients, 37 men and 63 women, hospitalized for rehabilitation after surgery for
a fracture in the femoral neck. METHODS: All the patients were interviewed by a
physician from the rehabilitation department about the circumstances of their
fall injuries, examined by an ophthalmologist for ocular problems, and evaluated
by an occupational therapist for cognitive function. Data about background
diseases were retrieved from the patients' medical records. MAIN OUTCOME
MEASUREMENTS: Age of the patients, place and time of the fall, the circumstances
of the fall event, the footwear used at the time of the fall, ophthalmic
problems, cognitive disorders, eyeglasses use, walking aids use, medication used
that may affect the central nervous system, and the presence of diseases that may
influence patients' equilibrium. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 78
years, with a mean weight of 69 kg. Seventy-eight percent had 1-5 diseases that
could influence their balance during weight bearing; 67% had an ophthalmic
disease. For 70% of the patients, the cause of the fall appeared to be intrinsic
(personal). Seventy-two percent wore socks or slippers, or were barefoot at the
time of the fall. Sixty-four percent of the patients who used a walking aid did
not use it during the fall event. Seventy-one percent of falls occurred indoors
and 29% outdoors. Fifty-five percent of the patients were with another person
when they fell. Fifty-one percent were taking tranquilizers or medications for
sleep disorders. Sixty-eight percent fell during the daylight hours, between 6 AM
and 6 PM. Of the patients who wore eyeglasses, 77.6% were not wearing them when
they fell. Seventy percent had a short-term memory disorder, 57% had a
concentration disorder, and 49% had an orientation disorder. CONCLUSIONS:
Characteristics common to patients who fell and fractured their femoral neck
included age older than 78 years, cognitive impairment, nonuse of eyeglasses that
were prescribed, and inappropriate footwear.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS