· In the elderly, falling is the most common mechanism of injury · Unavoidable Risk factors: age 85 or older, male, Caucasian, history of falls · Other factors: alcohol consumption, polypharmacy · Mechanisms of fall: slipping, tripping, stumbling · Physical exam to include: gait, balance, proprioception, vision, strength and cognitive function testing · Must consider neglect/abuse, affects 10% of seniors per year · Evaluate for anticoagulant use due to increased risk of intracranial injury · Use advanced imaging to identify occult hip fractures when clinically suspected and plain radiographs are negative
References
Abraham, MK, Cimino-Fiallos, NE. Falls in the Elderly: Causes, Injuries, and Management. Medscape February 1, 2017.
