According to figures from Public Health France, more than 9,000 people over 65 die from a fall each year, and there are more than 75,000 hospitalizations for femoral neck fractures in France per year. A fall is never trivial. Even if it seems not serious, it may be useful to consult your doctor. To rule out an injury that went unnoticed, but also to understand the causes of this fall and prevent a new incident.
After a fall, vigilance is essential
A slippery carpet, a poorly tied shoelace, the cord of a lamp dragging in the passage, and it’s a fall. When the injury is clear (loss of consciousness, broken arm or fracture of the femoral neck for example), you must call the firefighters without delay. But an apparently harmless fall should not be neglected either. You must be very attentive, in the hours and days that follow, to the occurrence of certain symptoms: pain, swelling of a joint, bruising but also in certain more serious cases, nausea or vomiting, malaise and dizziness. Being able to get up on your own does not mean that the fall was not serious, especially if your head hit the ground.
An appointment with your doctor is therefore essential after a fall, even if there are no immediate worrying signs. After an interview, the doctor carries out a complete clinical examination then prescribes imaging tests and a blood test (to eliminate a deficiency, for example).
Understanding the causes of falling
The goal of the doctor’s appointment is also to understand why the person fell. The cause of a fall is often multifactorial. On the one hand, there are causes linked to the person’s state of health (joint problems, balance problems, neurological problems, muscular weakness, etc.), on the other hand, their lifestyle habits but also their environment ( undeveloped home, fall outside on ice for example, etc.)
To identify the cause of a fall, several tests are necessary:
- An ENT assessment: to check for an inner ear problem or hearing loss.
- An ophthalmological examination: the fall can be caused by reduced vision
- A cardiovascular exam to rule out high blood pressure or a heart problem
- A neurological examination: to look for a motor deficit, balance disorders or even cognitive disorders.
- A check-up with a chiropodist-podiatrist.
Sources:
- Health insurance – You have fallen or you are afraid of falling: an essential assessment
- Fall – Public Health France