CIRCUMSTANCES OF FALLS CAUSING HIP-FRACTURES IN THE ELDERLY

A prospective analysis was performed on 832 patients to determine the circumstances surrounding falls leading to hip fracture within a homog enous, elderly urban population. Special emphasis was placed on the se ason of year, time of day, location of fall, and other circumstances i n which the fracture occurred. All patients were community dwelling co gnitively intact, previously ambulatory elderly who sustained a femora l neck or intertrochanteric fracture, Most fractures occurred at home, particularly in patients who were older, less healthy, and poorer amb ulators. More than 75% of fractures resulted from a fall while the pat ient was standing or walking. Most falls occurred during daylight hour s with a peak seen in the afternoon, No seasonal variation in the inci dence of hip fractures was observed.