Elderly Patients with Trauma: Radiologist’s Perspective of Burden of Disease in a Nigerian Sub-Urban Tertiary Hospital

Introduction: Fractures are known to be common among older and elderly persons of age 60 years and above, partly because of bone weakness or increase in frequency of falls and trauma. Data on fractures in elderly are scarce and there is need to document frequencies and predisposing factor in our community. Aim: To review the radiographs of patients aged 60 years and above and to determine the frequency of fracture, sex distribution, associated event, and bones involved. Materials and Methods: The present study was retrospective study in which the radiographs of elderly patients were collected from the radiology department between January, 2016 to November, 2018 and were reviewed to determine the prevalence and causes of fractures, as well as factors associated with them. Results: Of the 561 radiographs reviewed, fractures were found in 73, consisting of 28 in men and 45 in women. Thirty-eight, (53%) of the fractures occurred in the 60-70 years age group. Fracture on left side was more common and females had fracture more on the left side in 27 patients as against 17 on the right side, with one having fracture in the pubic bone. Fractures were associated with trauma, falls and Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) equally. The bones of the lower limbs were involved in 50 cases, while those of the upper limb were involved in 22 cases, with only one in the axial skeleton. The femur was involved in 23 (31.5%) of the cases. Conclusion: The study established the vulnerability of elderly people aged 60-70 years, particularly women, to fractures. There is a constant need for adequate social protection policy to be implied for such vulnerable group of people.