Centre for Policy on Ageing



Rehabilitation after minor fractures in elderly patients
Author(s)	W J MacLennan, C T Currie
Journal title	Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, vol 7, no 1, February 1997
Pages	pp 55-62
Keywords	Fractures ; Rehabilitation ; Accidents ; Preventative medicine.
Annotation	Analysis of the types of fractures sustained by older people indicates a high prevalence of minor fractures, with consequent heavy demands on the NHS (National Health Service). Their management also presents difficulties, as falls which are responsible for fractures may be associated with medical or environmental factors, which, unless tackled, may result in further injury. The authors consider approaches used by Accident and Emergency departments and in rehabilitation. Fractures of the upper limbs (wrist and proximal humerus), ankles, neck, and compression fractures of the dorsal and lumbar vertebrae are considered. The role of physiotherapy in reducing the risk of falls remains contentious: further work is required to establish the extent to which physiotherapy, as opposed to modification of medication and behavioural instructions, was critical in improving the situation. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-980702006 A
Classmark	CUF: LM: OKA: LK2
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing

...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.