Rehabilitation of elderly patients with multiple fractures secondary to falls

Nine patients, 6% of admissions with orthopaedic trauma to a rehabilitation unit for elderly people, had multiple fractures secondary to falls. In our 13-month experience, all cases were female with a mean age of 83 years. The mean length of stay in hospital was 37 days. The majority of people were able to return to their own homes. Thirty per cent of people admitted from their own homes were discharged considerably more dependent. Fractures of the hip and humerus were the most common. Cardiac and nervous system diseases were common. Nervous system disease was the cause of the fall in 30% of the cases. Rehabilitation of these patients is more difficult than for those with single fractures, and a multidisciplinary approach is needed.