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Spinal Fractures in Older Adult Patients Admitted After Low‐Level Falls: 10‐Year Incidence and Outcomes
Author(s) -
Jawa Randeep S.,
Singer Adam J.,
Rutigliano Daniel N.,
McCormack Jane E.,
Huang Emily C.,
Shapiro Marc J.,
Fields Suzanne D.,
Morelli Brian N.,
Vosswinkel James A.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/jgs.14669
Subject(s) - medicine , incidence (geometry) , spinal fracture , rehabilitation , poison control , retrospective cohort study , injury prevention , population , surgery , physical therapy , emergency medicine , physics , environmental health , optics
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.