Accidents due to falls and femoral fracture in elderly population

• Autor(a) principal: Oliveira, Maria José Santos de
• Data de Publicação: 2018
• Outros Autores: Santos, Fernanda dos, Lange, Celmira, Casagranda, Letícia Pilotto, Thumé, Elaine, Castro, Denise Somavila Przylynski
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista de Enfermagem da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria
• Texto Completo: http://periodicos.ufsm.br/reufsm/article/view/26168
• topic: Accidental falls; Femoral fractures; Aged; Accidentes por caídas; Fracturas del fémur; Ancianos; Acidentes por quedas; Fraturas do fêmur; Idoso; Quedas em idosos

Aim: this study aims to know the characteristics of elderly people hospitalized for femoral fracture and extrinsic factors related to accidents due to falls. Method: this is a crosssectional and descriptive study, carried out from February 2012 to February 2013, with 108 elderly patients hospitalized due to a femoral fracture in a medium-sized hospital in Pelotas city. The variables of socioeconomic and demographic data were analysed in relation to the extrinsic factors of falls in the elderly population. Results: most of the interviewees were retired, widowed, literate, and suffered a fractured femur due to the fall in their own homes. Most of the houses did not have adaptations inside and the available rugs were not non-slip. Conclusions: the findings show that accidents due to falls can be avoided with simple measures; however an evaluation of the elderly and of the environment in which they live is necessary, identifying the risks for falls.