Pattern of fractures among patients with musculoskeletal injuries due to fall: A Hospital-based study from North India

Background: Falls are a major cause a cause of unintentional injury. Reports in past suggest that majority of falls happen from fall from one level to another followed by fall from trees. In the year 2004, 17.2 million Daly's have been reported to be loss of due to falls. The study was planned with the aim to assess the pattern of fractures due to fall. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted as a hospital-based descriptive study conducted for 1 year between June 2014 and May 2015 using a record-based registration system at a tertiary care center in a rural area of Northwest India. The study population comprised all consecutive cases of musculoskeletal injuries due to fall reporting to the tertiary care center during the study except for those who denied consent to be included in the study. Results: It is seen that fracture distal end radius was the most common, followed by fracture both bone forearm and supracondylar fracture of elbow in the upper limb. Further, it is seen that intertrochanteric fracture and fracture both bone leg are the most common fractures in the right lower limb. Conclusions: Most often the cause of fall is multifactorial, even though it is know that falls are non-inevitable, therefore preventive strategies have much importance to avoid the fall related injuries