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Falls and Injuries Center
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FALLS AND INJURIES - NEWS CENTER |
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 I've Fallen, and I Can't Get Up!
March 13, 2008
In 2005, nearly 16,000 people over the age of 65 died in the United States as a result of injuries from falls, making falls the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for this age group. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a self-reported survey which found that 5.8 million adults aged 65 and over fell at least one time in 2006.
What Are Your Chances of Breaking a Hip?
January 17, 2008
About 330,000 hip fractures occur each year in the USA. They can result in discomfort, promote disability, and result in loss of independence, so it's good to know what the most common risk factors are. Data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study were used to elaborate a list, which has been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Check Your Chances of Falling
January 14, 2008
As one gets older, the chances of falling increase, and with them the chances of long-lasting disability. Answer these 10 questions to see if you need to be better prepared against the risk of a fall at home.
Hip Protectors Don't Work As Intended
August 18, 2007
In 2000 the New England Journal of Medicine published an article from Finland showing that wearing a padded protector over the point of the hip would prevent a number of fractures of the head of the femur - an important cause of serious disability and even death in old persons. In this month's Journal of the American Medical Association there's an article reporting the result of a multicenter study of the use of a hip pad on one side only.
Are You Likely to Fall?
May 21, 2007
Older people (say over 65) are more prone to falls, and when they fall they do themselves more damage than younger folk. It can be due to age-related muscle weakness, medications, vision problems, occasional low blood pressure on standing, and poor balance. There's a simple test to see if you have a problem with balance and mobility. It's called the Timed "Up & Go" Test.
Coaching Doesn't Always Prevent Falls in the Elderly
May 7, 2007
Falls in the elderly are serious affairs; they result in injuries - chiefly fractures - that cause disability and sometimes death. Several studies have shown that intensive 'training' can reduce the likelihood of falls by older people. But a new study has thrown cold water on the ability to prevent falls by moderately intense efforts at prevention. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Increase in spinal cord injury noted
March 26, 2007
The number of spinal cord injuries among the older population has increased dramatically over the last three decades.
Workplace pressure and hazards increase risk of injury for young people
January 30, 2007
Young people are at risk of workplace injury, according to a ten year analysis.
Study looks at the risk of repeat fractures in older people
January 25, 2007
Both older men and women have a substantial risk of suffering a repeat fracture when they have already had one.
Hip fractures may not be caused by benzodiazepine use
January 16, 2007
Limiting the use of benzodiazepines does not appear to reduce the incidence of hip fractures, according to a new study.
Burn patients need help coping with depression
January 15, 2007
People who have had serious burns are likely to suffer from clinical depression.
Smarter kids are less accident-prone when they grow up
January 9, 2007
A higher level of childhood intelligence seems to confer protection from injury in later life.
Men with low testosterone more likely to fall
October 24, 2006
Low testosterone is linked with an increased risk of having a fall among men.
A study shows that prevention of falls is important for avoiding disability
September 12, 2006
Preventing falls is the way forward in reducing disability in later life.
Latest head injury figures reveal dangers of cycling and other sports
August 16, 2006
Sport and recreation account for one in five of head injuries in the USA.
How medical conditions affect the sense of balance
August 11, 2006
Conditions such as Parkinson's, eye disease and diabetes can rob you of your balance, putting you at risk of falls.
A study compares multi-detector computed tomography with conventional radiography
August 9, 2006
Multi-detector computed tomography looks like the best choice of imaging for assessment of bone healing.
People keep driving even when they're falling asleep
July 5, 2006
A study from France shows how drivers put themselves and others at risk by ignoring sleepiness.
Safety on England's roads is not improving
June 29, 2006
A study shows a discrepancy between police and hospital statistics in road traffic accident rates in England.
Apartment dwellers risk accidents and injuries
May 17, 2006
A new study reveals that people who live in an apartment are more prone to burns and poisoning than those who live in a house.
Lawn mower injuries on the increase
April 27, 2006
Around two out of every thousand emergency room injuries come from a lawn mower, according to the latest figure.
Workplace injury and illness underestimated
April 24, 2006
A comparison study suggests that federal figures miss around two-thirds of occupational health problems.
A new procedure helps a common type of wrist fracture heal more quickly.
March 3, 2006
Administering epoetin for anemia once every three weeks is as good as a weekly treatment for patients with cancer.
Anger leaves men susceptible to accidents and injury
February 1, 2006
Men who get irritable may find their risk of injury increased, according to a new study.
Home tips for wound healing
January 5, 2006
Doctors at the Mayo Clinic explain how to use self help to recover from everyday scrapes and cuts.
Road deaths 400 times greater than those from terrorism
December 5, 2005
The death toll from road crashes is nearly 400 times more than that from terrorist attacks.
Emergency room visits down during key baseball games
October 3, 2005
When the Boston Red Sox were doing well, people preferred staying in front of the TV to visiting the emergency room.
Emergency room visits down during key baseball games
September 30, 2005
When the Boston Red Sox were doing well, people preferred staying in front of the TV to visiting the emergency room.
Identifying spinal injury in the emergency room
September 14, 2005
According to a new study, not all spinal damage sustained in an injury is visible on an ordinary x-ray.
Head injury often underestimated
July 29, 2005
A new study suggests that both doctors and caregivers may underestimate the true impact of a head injury.
Injuries more common among obese people
July 22, 2005
Those who are extremely overweight run a much higher risk of injuring themselves than those of normal weight.
Calcium and vitamin D don't stop fractures
May 4, 2005
A study shows that calcium and vitamin D do not appear to reduce the risk of hip fractures among women living in the community.
Exercise as good as surgery for shoulder injury
May 3, 2005
A study shows that graded exercise training works equally well as surgery in treating rotator cuff injury of the shoulder.
Avoiding winter injury
January 4, 2005
Winter weather poses various hazards, both outside and inside the home.
Medical injuries in hospital are costly
October 10, 2003
A study shows that medical injuries sustained in hospital are risky for the patient and push up costs.
Chronic disease linked to falls
October 9, 2003
Elderly women with chronic diseases are more likely to have a fall, according to a new study.
Deaths following fracture unchanged in 20 years
October 8, 2003
There has been no significant decline in the death rate from thigh bone fractures among older people in the last two decades.
Big increase in wrist fractures over last three decades
October 3, 2003
Wrist fractures are occurring more often, especially during the adolescent growth spurt, suggesting increasing problems with bone density.
The cost of falls among the elderly
September 1, 2003
A new report reveals that falls among older people cost the UK government almost one billion pounds a year.
Small amounts of alcohol increase risk of injury
June 5, 2003
Just two beers can increase your chances of having an accident, say doctors at the University of Missouri.
Hip protectors do reduce falls
January 10, 2003
The use of hip protectors in nursing homes can reduce the number of fractures by half.
Stay safe in cold weather
December 11, 2002
Be aware of the dangers of hypothermia this winter, says an emergency room expert.
New treatment for tendon injuries
December 6, 2002
Minimally-invasive ultrasound-guided needle therapy is providing relief for many people with tendon injuries.
Marked crosswalks may be a danger to older pedestrians
November 7, 2002
A new study shows that older pedestrians are at risk of being knocked down if they use a marked crosswalk without traffic signals or stop signs.
Eye and lung injuries prevalent among Trade Centre survivors
January 18, 2002
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issues regular bulletins on medical outbreaks and disasters in the US. They now find that just under 800 people reported to four hospitals close to the Trade Centres on or shortly after September 11, with many more going to hospitals in New Jersey and Connecticut. Of these, 73 per cent were treated and released, 16 per cent were hospitalised and four people died. Their ages ranged from less than one year to 95 years.
Belt up at the back
January 10, 2002
Japanese researchers find that the majority of deaths of front-seat car passengers could be prevented if those in the back used seat belts.
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