Falls Flashcards
What is the relationship between fall height and injury potential?
The greater the height of the fall, the greater the potential for injury.
At what height is a fall considered significant?
A fall from more than 20 feet (6 m) is considered significant.
What happens to internal organs during a fall?
Internal organs travel at the speed of the patient’s body before hitting the ground and stop by smashing into the interior of the body.
What type of injuries pose the gravest threat to life following a fall?
Internal injuries are the least obvious during assessment but pose the gravest threat to life.
What should be suspected in a patient who has fallen from a significant height?
Suspect internal injuries.
What should always be considered in patients who fall?
Always consider syncope or other underlying medical causes of the fall.
How may landing on feet affect injury severity in a fall?
Patients who land on their feet may have less severe internal injuries because their legs may have absorbed much of the energy.
What serious injuries may result from falls where patients impact head first?
Serious head and/or spinal injuries.
What factors should be taken into account when evaluating a fall?
The following factors:
* The height of the fall
* The type of surface struck
* The part of the body that hit first, followed by the path of energy displacement
Why are many falls in older patients not considered high-energy trauma?
Older patients often have osteoporosis, which weakens bones and can lead to fractures from relatively low stress.
What type of fracture can an older patient sustain from a fall?
A fracture as a result of a fall from a standing position.
True or False: All fractures in older patients from falls are considered high-energy trauma.
False
