In Australia there is approximately 22,000 people who suffer a fractured hip in each year according to a 2017 audit by the Australian and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry based at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA).
5% of victims die in hospital with another 25% mortality rate within 12 months of discharge and an estimated cost of over $900 million.
Fall related injuries are a leading cause of hospitalisation among the elderly and the problem will grow as the population ages.
Greater care needs to be taken in the prevention of falls.
In the home many older people have a fine collection of articles gathered over the years which can often lead to a cluttered environment.
This, together with a penchant for floor rugs, often amounts to an obstacle course of trip hazards to be negotiated throughout the day.
In aged care facilities, although many hazards have been eliminated, the risk remains high due to decreased mobility of residents and the numbers present.
After a fall it is vitally important to conduct a secondary survey on the victim before any attempt is made to move them.
Yes this can be difficult in some cases when you factor such variables as pain threshold, cognitive impairment and just plain stoicism but it must be done.
Any movement post a neck of femur fracture can drastically impact on the outcome for the victim.
Do you know what to look for in a suspected NOF Fracture?
Enrol in a First Aid course or First Aid Refresher course today.
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