Spinal Fractures in Older Adult Patients Admitted After Low-Level Falls: 10-Year Incidence and Outcomes

• Autores: Randeep S. Jawa, Adam J. Singer, Daniel N. Rutigliano, Jane E. McCormack, Emily C. Huang, Marc J. Shapiro, Suzanne D. Fields, Brian N. Morelli, James A. Vosswinkel
• Localización: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, ISSN 0002-8614, Vol. 65, Nº. 5, 2017, págs. 909-915
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
  • Texto Completo Ejemplar
• Resumen

  • 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.