Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0241981 (loss of balance)
 452 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Falls are a significant cause of injury, disability, and death in the elderly, but little is known about the risk of wheelchair-related falls. The purpose of this study is to describe the incidence, etiology, location of fracture, treatment, and health care utilization of fall-related fractures in persons with spinal cord impairment (SCI). A retrospective review of 45 medical records of patients with SCI who sustained fractures, nonconcomitant with the onset of their initial injury, was completed at a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) SCI service over a 10-year period. Of the 24 veterans who sustained fall-related fractures, three (12%) were found to have repeated falls with fractures. Falls were sustained during activities (more than one wheelchair activity contributed to a fall; e.g., transfer activity with brake failure in a van) including transfer (44%), reaching (11%), propelling (15%), moving in bed (22%), transferring or riding in a vehicle (30%), and showering (7%). Factors contributing to falls included loss of balance, equipment failure, muscle spasms, excessive speed, not wearing protective straps, and narcolepsy. Among the 31 fractures sustained in 27 fall episodes in 24 subjects, lower extremity fractures accounted for 97% of the injuries and a fractured 7th rib accounted for one injury (3%). Tibial fractures occurred more frequently than femoral or ankle fractures. Four (15%) fall episodes resulted in bilateral fractures. The treatment of choice was to immobilize the fractured extremity with a soft, well-padded splint. Surgical fixation was performed in only two cases. Over 80% of the patients with fall-related fractures were admitted for inpatient stays with a mean of 66 inpatient days per patient. Hospital days were most often the result of home inaccessibility, inadequate support at home, or surgical intervention.
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PMID:Fall-related fractures in persons with spinal cord impairment: a descriptive analysis. 1462 16