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Neck injuries among the elderly in Sweden
1Department of Aeronautics, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. karinbr@kth.se
Injury Control and Safety Promotion
|July 17, 2003
Summary
Elderly individuals in Sweden sustain a disproportionate number of neck injuries, primarily from falls. This highlights the urgent need for targeted fall prevention strategies in this demographic.
Area of Science:
- Traumatology
- Geriatric Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Neck injuries pose significant risks, potentially impacting the spinal cord.
- Previous studies indicated a rising incidence of neck injuries in individuals over 65 in Sweden.
- A need exists to understand the specific patterns of neck injuries in the elderly population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the magnitude, severity, and external causes of neck injuries in Swedish individuals aged 65 and above.
- To analyze trends in cervical fractures and soft tissue injuries within this demographic.
Main Methods:
- National incidence study utilizing data from the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare's injury surveillance program (1987-1999).
- Inclusion of cervical vertebral fractures (1987-1999) and cervical soft tissue injuries (1997-1999).
- Data analyzed from hospital discharge registers using ICD-9 and ICD-10 coding systems.
Main Results:
- Individuals over 65 accounted for 30% of all cervical injuries and 43% of fatal injuries, despite being 17% of the population.
- Fall accidents were the leading cause (71%), with an increasing trend.
- Axis (C2) fractures were most common (50%), followed by lower vertebral fractures (16%) and atlas (C1) fractures (11%).
- Men exhibited a higher incidence of neck fractures than women.
- Upper cervical injuries were most frequent, associated with longer hospital stays and often caused by low-energy falls.
Conclusions:
- The elderly population in Sweden experiences a high burden of neck injuries, predominantly from falls.
- There is a clear need for enhanced preventive measures against falls in older adults.
- Further research, potentially involving engineering and accident simulations, is recommended to understand injury mechanisms and inform prevention strategies.