title: Postoperative patient falls on an orthopedic inpatient unit.
abstract: We are not aware of any data looking specifically at inpatient falls in an orthopedic ward. We reviewed all postoperative orthopedic patients who fell during 2003 and 2005 on a single postoperative orthopedic unit. Seventy patients (1%) fell, resulting in 2.5 falls per 1000 musculoskeletal inpatient days. Most (n = 45, 64%) were bathroom related, were unassisted (n = 54, 77%), and occurred during the evening or night shift (n = 46, 66%). Thirteen (19%) patients acquired an injury as a consequence. Female sex (odds ratio [OR] = 1.9), patient age greater than 65 years (OR = 1.7), prolonged admission (OR = 1.7), and admission for primary or revision knee arthroplasty (OR = 5.0) were all significant risk factors for a postoperative inpatient fall. This information has provided us with some insight to direct the development of a fall prevention program specific to postoperative orthopedic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Duncan B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Ackerman
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Trousdale
authors.forename: Patti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bieber
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Henely
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Pagnano
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Berry
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology