Fall Episodes-an Eight-Year Review of Medical Cases Managed by Physiotherapy Department of Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Abstract

Physiotherapy is a major component of the multidisciplinary team which manages medical patients. The consequences of fall amongst these patients are grave-medically and cost wisely; this underscores the significance of this study which was designed to establish the incidence of fall amongst medical patients managed at the Physiotherapy Department of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos between January 2005 and December 2013. Records of all the medical patients managed during the study period were sorted out and data on specific diagnosis, age, gender, incidence, causes, location and consequences of fall were collated. A total of 315 medical cases were reviewed; 62 (19.7%) reported incidence of fall. The mean age of these patients is 57.7years and the fall incidence ratio between male and female is 1.0: 1.1. Incidence of fall was most prevalent (16.5%) amongst Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) patients; right hemiplegic patients sustained fall more than left hemiplegics (ratio 2:1). Majority (93.7%) of fall cases occurred within patient's home environment. This study thus made case for adoption of proper fall prevention strategies for the care of patients with medical conditions.

Key word: Physiotherapy, Fall, Medical patients, Review, Cerebrovascular accident, Hemiplegic