Falls History Flashcards

1
Q

why is there 2 decks on falls?

A

first one had shit falls history and it could be in osce so important :)

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2
Q

What can the questions about the actual falls in a falls history be divided into?

A
  • When
  • Where
  • What
  • Why
  • Who
  • How
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3
Q

What needs to be asked about when in a falls history?

A
  • What time of the day did they fall

- What were they doing at the time

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4
Q

Give 2 examples of when knowing what the patient was doing at the time may be helpful in falls history?

A
  • Looking upwards may suggest vertebrobasilar insufficiency

- Getting up from bed may suggest postural hypotension

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5
Q

What needs to be asked about where in falls history?

A

In house, or outside?

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6
Q

What are the categories of questions when asking about what happened in a fall?

A
  • Before
  • During
  • After
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7
Q

What needs to be asked about what happened before a fall?

A
  • Was there any warning?

- Was there any dizziness/chest pain or palpitations

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8
Q

What needs to be asked about what happened during a fall?

A
  • Any incontinence or tongue biting
  • Loss of consiousness
  • Pale/flushed
  • Injuries
  • Which part of body had first contact with floor
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9
Q

Why is it important to know if there was any incontinence or tongue biting during a fall?

A

Indicates seizure activity

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10
Q

What needs to be asked about what happened after a fall?

A
  • Could they get themselves up, and how long did it take them
  • Could they resume normal activities afterwards
  • Was there any confusion after event
  • Was there any weakness or speech difficulty
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11
Q

What might confusion after a fall indicate?

A

Head injury

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12
Q

What might weakness or speech difficulty after a fall suggest?

A

Stroke/TIA

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13
Q

Give 2 examples of why a patient might think they had fallen?

A
  • Tripped over rug

- Started new medication

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14
Q

What ‘who’ question should be asked in a falls history?

A

Who has seen you fall

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15
Q

Why is it important to ask who has seen the patient fall?

A

Can provide collateral history

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16
Q

What ‘how’ question should you ask in a falls history?

A

How many times have you fallen over in last 6 months

17
Q

Why is it important to know how many times the patient has fallen over in the past 6 months?

A

Allows you to gauge severity of the problem

18
Q

What general PMH may be important in a falls history?

A
  • Visual/hearing impairment
  • Diabetes
  • Anaemia
19
Q

What cardiovascular PMH may be important in a falls history?

A
  • Cardiovascular disease

- Arrhythmias

20
Q

What respiratory PMH may be important in a falls history?

A

COPD

21
Q

What neurological PMH may be important in a falls history?

A
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Stroke
  • Dementia
22
Q

What genitourinary PMH may be important in a falls history?

A
  • Recurrent urinary tract infections

- Incontinence

23
Q

What gastrointestinal PMH may be important in a falls history?

A
  • Diverticulitis
  • Chronic diarrhoea
  • Alcoholic liver disease
24
Q

What MSK PMH may be important in falls history?

A
  • Arthritis
  • Chronic pain
  • Fractures
25
Q

What needs to be included in social history in falls history?

A
  • Alcohol intake
  • Support at home
  • Mobility and aids
26
Q

What medications are important in falls?

A
  • Beta blockers
  • Diabetic medications
  • Anti-hypertensives
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Antibiotics
27
Q

What needs to be asked in a general systems enquiry in falls history?

A
  • Fatigue

- Weight loss

28
Q

What needs to be asked in cardiovascular systems enquiry in falls history?

A
  • Chest pain

- Palpitations

29
Q

What needs to be asked in a respiratory systems enquiries in falls history?

A
  • Shortness of breath

- Cough

30
Q

What needs to be asked in a neurological systems enquiries in falls history?

A
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Seizures
  • Motor or sensory disturbance
31
Q

What needs to be asked in a genitourinary systems enquiry in falls history?

A
  • Incontinence
  • Urgency
  • Dysuria
32
Q

What needs to be asked in a gastrointestinal systems enquiry in falls history?

A
  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhoea
  • Constipation
33
Q

What needs to be asked in a MSK systems enquiry in falls history?

A
  • Joint pain

- Muscle weakness