International journal of circumpolar health
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Int J Circumpolar Health · Apr 1999
The Harstad injury prevention study: the characteristics and distribution of fractures amongst elders--an eight year study.
To do a complete survey of hospital-treated fractures in the aged (65+ years old) and to report the characteristics and distribution of all fractures occurring within this defined population. ⋯ Nine out of ten fractures in the aged were caused by falls. Although the fracture risk for the elderly living in a nursing home was four times as high as those living in private homes, the volume of fractures occurring in private homes and traffic areas make them a prime target for interventions. Continuous prospective hospital recording of fractures in a community of aged is feasible and provides a tool for targeting interventions and evaluating the outcome of a community fall-fracture prevention programme.