@article{ref1,
title="Injury patterns and incidence of intra-abdominal injuries in elderly ground level fall patients: is the PAN-SCAN warranted?",
journal="American journal of surgery",
year="2018",
author="Gartin, Christopher G. and Reyes, Jared and Helmer, Stephen D. and Haan, James M.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the incidence of intra-abdominal injuries in elderly patients after a ground-level fall. <br><br>METHODS: A 6-year retrospective review was conducted on patients 65 years of age or older involved in a fall from standing and evaluated at a level 1 trauma center. Each patient presented with a pelvic, thoracolumbar, and/or lower rib fracture. Data collection included demographics, injury characteristics, FAST exam results, CT imaging results, and hospitalization outcomes. <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 324 patients met study inclusion criteria. The majority of patients were white (95.1%) females (65.4%) with an average age of 82.0 ± 7.3 years. Only 22 patients (6.8%) reported abdominal pain, although an abdominal CT was performed in 91 patients (28.1%). Only 1 patient (0.3%) was found to have an intra-abdominal injury when no abdominal pain was reported and the FAST exam was negative. This injury was not clinically significant enough to warrant surgical intervention. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Elderly patients who suffer a ground-level fall do not benefit from PAN-SCAN, even when presenting with rib, thoracolumbar, and/or pelvic fractures.<br><br>Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0002-9610",
doi="10.1016/j.amjsurg.2018.11.041",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2018.11.041"
}