The perils of pet ownership: a new fall-injury risk factor.
OBJECTIVE
To describe fall-related injuries due to pets in an older population.


METHODS
Case series.


METHODS
Patients aged 75 years and over presenting to the emergency department of a metropolitan hospital in northern Sydney over 18 months, with a fracture directly related to their pet.


METHODS
Type of fracture; circumstances of injury.


RESULTS
16 cases (mean patient age, 81 years) are described; 13 (81%) involved women. Animals of five species were involved, with cats and dogs being the most common pet hazard.


CONCLUSIONS
Pets are a potential environmental hazard in the occurrence of fall-related injuries in older people, with dogs and cats most likely to be involved. Women appear more likely than men to be injured.
Kurrle
Susan E
SE
Rehabilitation and Aged Care Service, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Health Service, Sydney, NSW. kurrle@bigpond.com
Day
Robert
R
Cameron
Ian D
ID
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D002415:Cats; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004285:Dogs; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006041:Goats; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution