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. 2009 Feb 13;61(1):26–37. doi: 10.3138/physio.61.1.26

Table 3.

Fall Description at Time of Presentation to ED for Patients with a Fall-related Injury

Discharged from ED (n = 245) n (%) Admitted to Hospital (n = 55) n (%) Total Sample (n = 300) n (%)
Fall description:
    Fell on stairs 50 (20.4) 7 (12.7) 57 (19.0)
    Fell on ice 27 (11.0) 2 (3.6) 29 (9.7)
    Fell on curb/sidewalk 28 (11.4) 4 (7.3) 32 (10.7)
    Fell from bed/chair/couch/ wheelchair 22 (9.0) 10 (18.1) 32 (10.7)
    Tripped on other object 34 (13.9) 9 (16.4) 43 (14.3)
    Unexplained fall 49 (20.0) 15 (27.3) 64 (21.3)
    Other 34 (13.9) 8 (14.6) 42 (16.7)
Fall location:
    Inside home 78 (31.8) 28 (50.9) 106 (35.4)
    Outside home 92 (37.6) 15 (27.3) 107 (35.7)
    Not documented 67 (27.3) 11 (20.0) 78 (26.0)
Diagnosis:
    Laceration 42 (17.1) 0 (0.0) 42 (14.0)
    Fracture 71 (29.0) 42 (76.3) 113 (37.7)
    Head injury 25 (10.2) 4 (7.3) 29 (9.7)
    Soft-tissue injury 49 (20.0) 3 (5.5) 52 (17.3)
    No diagnosed injury 50 (20.4) 2 (3.6) 52 (17.3)
    Other 6 (2.4) 4 (7.3) 10 (3.3)
Loss of consciousness:
    Yes 6 (2.4) 6 (10.9) 12 (4.0)
    No 138 (56.3) 32 (58.2) 170 (56.7)
    Unknown 8 (3.3) 2 (3.6) 10 (3.3)
    Not documented 90 (36.7) 15 (27.3) 105 (35.0)
Alcohol use at time of fall:
    Yes 6 (2.4) 2 (3.6) 8 (2.7)
    No 9 (3.7) 9 (16.4) 18 (6.0)
    Not documented 229 (99.6) 44 (80.0) 273 (91.0)
*

If percentages do not add up to 100%, this is due to missing data