Falls risk factors and healthcare use in patients with a low-trauma wrist fracture attending a physiotherapy clinic (original) (raw)

International journal of therapy and rehabilitation, 2013

Abstract

Background: Falls continue to be the most common cause of injury for those aged over 65 years of age. The aim of this study was to characterise multifactorial falls risk factors in participants who had sustained a low-trauma wrist fracture and identify their healthcare use. Methods: This was a case-control, observational study, incorporating a comprehensive multifactorial falls assessment on 41 consecutive adults between 55 and 80 years who sustained a low-trauma wrist fracture and were compared to 41 age-matched healthy controls. The assessments included falls history, balance, footwear, vision, lower-limb strength, cognition, self-efficacy and environmental hazards. Results: The mean age of the wrist fracture group was 67.3 (SD ± 7.0) and that of the age-matched controls was 68.5 (SD ± 5.7). There were statistically significant differences between the wrist fracture participants and the control participants in: the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) (P<0.002); the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration and balance (M-CTSIB) (P<0.001); knee flexor strength (right: p<0.006, left: P<0.019); and cognition (P<0.009). There were higher levels of healthcare demands and medical interventions (referral to GP P<0.001; geriatrician P<0.04) and for further physiotherapy (P<0.001) for the participants following a low-trauma wrist fracture. Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight the need for a targeted falls prevention screening tool and intervention programmes for patients over 55 years of age who sustain a low-trauma wrist fracture.

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