Elderly- Immobility and Falls Flashcards
What are some musculoskeletal causes of falls?
- Arthritis of weight bearing joints
- Sarocopenia
- Deformities of feet
Which drugs could cause falls in the elderly?
- Anti-hypertensives
- Sedatives
- Alcohol
- Beta blocker
- Anti-cholingerics
- Opioids
What are neurological conditions which could cause falls?
- Stroke, old or new
- Parkinsonism
- Dementia
- Delirium, Ataxia (Seizure, TIA)
What are sensory causes of falls?
- Visual impairment
* Inattention (Hearing)
Which cardiological conditions could cause falls?
- Postural hypotension
- Arrythmia
- Heart failure
- Aortic Stenosis
How could incontinence cause falls?
Rushing to the toilet
What physiological mechanisms do drugs decrease that could cause falls?
- Blood pressure
- Heart rate
- Awareness
What psychological mechanisms do drugs increase that could cause falls?
- Urine output
- Sedation
- Hallucinations
- qTC
- Dizziness
When would you do a CT head after someone has fallen?
- Low GCS <13
- Still confused after 2 hours (or not back to baseline cognitive state)
- Focal neurology
- Signs of skull fracture
- Basal skull fracture – CSF leak, bruising around eyes,
- Seizure
- Vomiting
- Anti-coagualtion
When would you do an X-ray after someone has fallen?
- If pain on moving a joint have low threshold of x ray
* If no deformity but pain on weight bearing- People can walk on fractured hips
What are some possible causes of falls in Inpatients?
- Patient getting postural hypotension (or just hypotension) due to illness
- New medication
- Low blood glucose
- Getting sicker
- Delirium
- De-conditoning
- Call bell out of reach
- No appropriate footwear
If a patient collapsed with no memory,• Patient getting postural hypotension (or just hypotension) due to illness • New medication • Low blood glucose • Getting sicker • Delirium • De-conditoning • Call bell out of reach • No appropriate footwear
Syncope or cognition defect
If a patient had a clear history of trip what would this suggest?
Sensory deficit
If the patient had palpitations proceeding the fall and no trip?
Think cardiac
If the patient had syncope on exertion, what would this suggest?
Aortic stenosis
