Severe Injuries from Low-height Falls in the Elderly Population.
10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e221
- Author:
Hyeji LEE
1
;
Sun Hyu KIM
;
Sang Cheal LEE
;
Sunpyo KIM
;
Gyu Chong CHO
;
Min Joung KIM
;
Ji Sook LEE
;
Chul HAN
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Korea. stachy1@paran.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Elderly;
Falls;
Injury;
Relating Factors
- MeSH:
Accidental Falls*;
Aged*;
Consciousness;
Emergency Service, Hospital;
Head;
Humans;
Male;
Neck;
Residential Facilities;
Retrospective Studies
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2018;33(36):e221-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Falls from low-height can cause severe injuries in the elderly population. This study was conducted to determine characteristics of injuries from low-height falls. METHODS: We retrospectively review surveillance data on injured patients who presented to six emergency departments from January 2011 to December 2015. Study subjects were divided into severe group and non-severe group based on severity of injury. The general and clinical characteristics were compared between the two groups and analyzed factors related with severe injuries. RESULTS: Of 1,190 elderly patients, severe group comprised 82 patients (7%). The severe group was 2 years younger than the non-severe group. In the severe group, 61% was men and 34% in the non-severe group. In the non-severe, the injuries more commonly occurred at residential facilities and indoors than those in the severe group. Paid work during injury occurrence was 15%, and the more patients presented with non-alert consciousness in the severe group. The most common regions of major injury were head and neck in the severe group. CONCLUSION: Paid work, non-alert consciousness, and major injury to head and neck are relating factors to severe injuries in the elderly population.
