@article{ref1,
title="Ground-level geriatric falls: a not-so-minor mechanism of injury",
journal="Case reports in orthopedics",
year="2014",
author="Parker, Simon and Afsharpad, Arash",
volume="2014",
number="",
pages="e164632-e164632",
abstract="Introduction. Ground-level falls are typically regarded as a minor mechanism of injury that do not necessitate trauma team activation; however, they represent a significant proportion of hospitalised trauma and can result in multisystem injury. Case Presentation. A 79-year-old nursing home resident was brought to the emergency department following an unwitnessed fall. She suffered dementia and had a seizure in the department resulting in a reduced GCS, making history and examination difficult. She was diagnosed with a right proximal humerus fracture and admitted under joint orthopedic and medical care. Following orthopedic review, further X-rays were requested which showed bilateral neck of femur fractures. The following day she had bilateral hip hemiarthroplasties and K-wire stabilisation of the right shoulder. Several days later, when cognition had improved, she was noted to be avoiding use of the left arm and was found to also have a left proximal humerus fracture which was managed conservatively. <br><br>CONCLUSION. Trauma patients with reduced cognitive function should undergo full ATLS assessment, and a prospective trial is required to see if age should be incorporated as a criteria for trauma team activation. More liberal use of advanced imaging such as a full body CT-scan may be beneficial.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2090-6749",
doi="10.1155/2014/164632",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/164632"
}