Pattern of musculoskeletal injuries in the elderly.

Abstract

The elderly are the fastest growing part of the population of most developed
countries and consume a disproportionately high amount of health resources with
attendant pressures on health care providers, relatives and the tax payers. 1, 2, 3,4
However there is limited information on the utililisation of health care facilities and trauma patterns among the elderly in Nigeria. The study was to determine the hospital incidence, causes and pattern of musculoskeletal injuries in elderly patients seen at National Orthopaedic Hospital Lagos (N.O.H.L). A prospective study of adults 65 years of age and older presenting at the N.O.H.L with musculoskeletal injuries from 1st August 2003 to 31st July 2004 was undertaken. Data were analysed using Chi square and Fisher's exact test. Ninety one patients were seen in this study comprising of 45 females (49.5%) and 46 males (50.5%). A total of 6,947 new patients with musculoskeletal trauma presented to N.O.H.L in
this period. Incidence rate of injuries in the elderly was therefore calculated to be 276 per 10,000 patients or 2.8%.Thirty seven patients (40.7%) were between the age 65 to 69 years. 76 patients (83.5%) had bony injuries. Fifteen patients had only soft tissue injuries ranging from abrasions to avulsion injuries. Femoral fractures were commonest overall with 34 cases (46.6% of total). Most of these fractures were in the femoral neck accounting for 20 patients or 58.8% of all femoral fractures and 27.4% of all fractures. Fifty four patients (59.4%) had injuries caused by falls. 64.8% of these falls occurred at home with 48.6% of these falls occurring in the bathroom. Femoral neck fractures are the commonest
fractures seen in these patients and they were mainly caused by falls in the bathroom

Keywords: musculoskeletal injuries, elderly, health care, Lagos.

Ebonyi Medical Journal Vol. 6 (1) 2007 pp. 44-52