title: Spinal Fractures in Older Adult Patients Admitted After Low-Level Falls: 10-Year Incidence and Outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the incidence of spinal fractures and their outcomes in the elderly who fall from low-levels in a suburban county.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective county-wide trauma registry review from 2004 to 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Suburban county with regionalized trauma care consisting of 11 hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult trauma patients aged ≥65 years who were admitted after falling from <3 feet.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spinal fractures occurred in 18% of 4,202 older adult patients admitted following trauma over this 10-year time period, in the following distribution: 43% cervical spine, 5.7% thoracic, 4.9% lumbar spine, 36% sacrococcygeal, and 9.6% multiple spinal regions. As compared to non-spinal fracture patients, more spinal fracture patients went to acute/subacute rehabilitation (47% vs 34%, P < .001) and fewer were discharged home (21% vs 35%, P < .001). In-hospital mortality rate in spinal and non-spinal fracture patients was similar (8.5% vs 9.3%, P = .5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-level falls often resulted in a spinal fracture at a variety of levels. Vigilance in evaluation of the entire spine in this population is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma, Department of Surgery, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York.
authors.forename: Randeep S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Jawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York.
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma, Department of Surgery, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York.
authors.forename: Daniel N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Rutigliano
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma, Department of Surgery, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York.
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma, Department of Surgery, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York.
authors.forename: Emily C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma, Department of Surgery, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York.
authors.forename: Marc J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatrics, General Internal Medicine, and Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York.
authors.forename: Suzanne D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Fields
authors.affiliation: Spine and Scoliosis Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York.
authors.forename: Brian N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma, Department of Surgery, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Vosswinkel
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012445:Sacrococcygeal Region / Q000293:injuries; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation
keywords: elderly; fall; fracture; older; spine; trauma