BACKGROUND Although fall-induced injuries among older adults are said to be a major public health concern in modern societies with aging populations, reliable epidemiologic information on their secular trends is limited. METHODS We determined the current trend in the number and incidence (per 100,000 persons) of fall-induced severe cervical spine injuries (fracture, cord injury, or both) of o...

BACKGROUND Falls are the leading cause of injury in older people. Rehabilitation services can assist individuals to improve mobility and function after sustaining a fall-related injury. However, the true effect of fall-related injury resulting in hospitalisation is often underestimated because of failure to consider sub-acute and non-acute care provided following the acute hospitalisation episo...

BACKGROUND This 1-year prospective study examined the accuracy of patient recall of falls and fall injuries and completeness of chart documentation of these events. METHODS One hundred ambulatory geriatric family practice patients reported falls weekly by postcard with telephone call follow-up. On a final postcard they reported their recall of falls and fall injuries in the preceding 3-, 6-, ...

OBJECTIVE To identify risk factors for falls and injuries among seniors living in a long-term care facility. METHOD Case-control study of 335 residents living at St. Joseph's Villa, Dundas, Ontario. Cases were defined as residents who fell between July 1, 1996 and June 30, 1997; controls were those who did not fall. To identify risk factors for injury, cases were defined as those with complet...

PROBLEM The study examined risk factors for fatal versus serious injuries of construction workers' falls through roofs. METHOD Fatal injury falls (N = 10) were matched against serious injury falls (N = 10), and descriptive analyses were carried out retrospectively of investigation reports. RESULTS Fatal injuries occurred predominantly on farms, in the afternoon, and without the use of passi...

Having an active toddler has certainly made me far more aware of injuries, or more accurately, hazards with the potential for injury. Everyday situations and household objects suddenly become deathtraps and I find myself muddling along a line between being overly protective and overly relaxed. My approach varies according to some quasi-scientific factors such as 'probability of injury' and 'sev...

Triceps tendon rupture is a rare condition. The usual mechanism of injury is a fall on an outstretched hand, although direct contact injuries have also been reported to cause this injury. A 67-year-old woman presented with injuries caused by direct impact to her right elbow after a fall. X-rays of the elbow demonstrated the cardinal clinical 'gap' and 'flake' signs. It is necessary to be aware ...