Citation

Jawa RS, Singer AJ, Rutigliano DN, McCormack JE, Huang EC, Shapiro MJ, Fields SD, Morelli BN, Vosswinkel JA. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 2016; 65(5): 909-915.

Affiliation

Division of Trauma, Department of Surgery, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/jgs.14669

PMID

27910090

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the incidence of spinal fractures and their outcomes in the elderly who fall from low-levels in a suburban county.

DESIGN: Retrospective county-wide trauma registry review from 2004 to 2013. SETTING: Suburban county with regionalized trauma care consisting of 11 hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Adult trauma patients aged ≥65 years who were admitted after falling from <3 feet. MEASUREMENTS: Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and outcomes.

RESULTS: Spinal fractures occurred in 18% of 4,202 older adult patients admitted following trauma over this 10-year time period, in the following distribution: 43% cervical spine, 5.7% thoracic, 4.9% lumbar spine, 36% sacrococcygeal, and 9.6% multiple spinal regions. As compared to non-spinal fracture patients, more spinal fracture patients went to acute/subacute rehabilitation (47% vs 34%, P <.001) and fewer were discharged home (21% vs 35%, P <.001). In-hospital mortality rate in spinal and non-spinal fracture patients was similar (8.5% vs 9.3%, P =.5).

CONCLUSION: Low-level falls often resulted in a spinal fracture at a variety of levels. Vigilance in evaluation of the entire spine in this population is suggested.

© 2016, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2016, The American Geriatrics Society.

Language: en