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Abstract
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BACKGROUND: Trauma outcomes in elderly nursing home patients are not well described. The objectives of the study were to examine injury profile and in-hospital outcomes in a population of elderly nursing home residents admitted after a fall. The study aims to determine predictors of increased length of stay and the association of anticoagulant use to trauma.
Methods: Retrospective analysis of trauma registry data, of all nursing home residents aged 65 or over, admitted to hospital after a ground level fall between January 2013 and December 2013.
Results: Two hundred and fifteen cases were analysed. The most common injuries sustained were head injury (n=82) and lower limb injury (n=51). Patients who used anticoagulants prior to hospital admission had a higher proportion of major trauma (36% versus 9% p < 0.001) and severe head injury (23% versus 7% p=0.015) compared to patients who did not use pre-study anticoagulants. The median length of stay for admitted patients was 7 days (Interquartile Range 3-10 days). The only predictor of increased length of stay including transfer to rehabilitation after adjusting for age, injury severity, and co-morbidities was the presence of lower limb injuries (OR 5.2 95%CI 1.5, 18.0 p=0.01).
Conclusion: Head injuries are the most commonly injured body region. Our data suggest there is an association between anticoagulant use and greater severity of injury. Lower limb injuries were associated with longer length of stay in hospital.
Language: en |