Management of fall-related injuries in the elderly: a retrospective chart review of patients presenting to the emergency department of a community-based teaching hospital.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Miller, Erin Wightman, Elizabeth Rumbolt, Karla McConnell, Sara Berg, Katherine Devereaux, Moira Campbell, Fiona
Copyright Year	2009
Abstract	ABSTRACT Purpose: To identify current practice for elderly individuals who have sustained a fall-related injury and subsequently presented to the emergency department (ED) of a community-based hospital in Toronto, Ontario. Methods: A retrospective longitudinal chart review was conducted for 300 persons, 65 years of age and older, who presented to the ED of a community-based teaching hospital with a fall from June 2004 through May 2005. Data were collected using a tool created by the investigators (based on information gathered through a literature review) to capture information related to risk factors for falling. Results: Our study sample was demographically similar to elderly individuals in other fall-related studies. Most patients discharged directly from the ED did not receive multidisciplinary care. In the ED, all patients saw a nurse or physician, while only 1.3% (n = 4) saw a physical therapist, 3.0% (n = 9) saw an occupational therapist, and 5.3% (n = 16) saw a social worker. At discharge, 62% (n = 152) had no documented referral for follow-up care. Abilities related to falls in elderly individuals were not consistently assessed in the ED. Frequency of assessment for these abilities was as follows: (1) gait, 10.2%; (2) balance, 4.1%; (3) lower-extremity range of motion, 4.9%; (4) lower-extremity strength, 2.0%; (5) cognition, 26.1%; (6) vision, 2.0%; (7) ability to perform activities of daily living, 7.3%. In the 6 months following the index fall, 8.3% of patients returned to the ED of the same hospital because of a subsequent fall. Conclusions: In the ED, fall-related risk factors were not consistently assessed or documented, and few patients received multidisciplinary management. Since elderly individuals who fall commonly present to the ED, the implementation of evidence-based strategies aimed at preventing repeat falls should be considered.
Related Links	https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC2788319&blobtype=pdf
ISSN	03000508
Volume Number	61
DOI	10.3138/physio.61.1.26
PubMed Central reference number	PMC2788319
Issue Number	1
PubMed reference number	20145749
Journal	Physiotherapy Canada [Physiother Can]
e-ISSN	17088313
Language	English
Publisher	University of Toronto Press Incorporated
Publisher Date	2009-02-13
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	© Canadian Physiotherapy Association, 2009. All rights reserved.
Subject Keyword	emergency department management falls in the elderly fall prevention fall-related injuries fall risk blessures liées à une chute chutes chez les personnes âgées gestion d'un service des urgences prévention des chutes risque de chute
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation