The perils of pet ownership: a new fall-injury risk factor.
case_series · Level IV
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 15588212.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe fall-related injuries due to pets in an older population. DESIGN: Case series. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Patients aged 75 years and over presenting to the emergency department of a metropolitan hospital in northern Sydney over 18 months, with a fracture directly related to their pet. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Type of fracture; circumstances of injury. RESULTS: 16 cases (mean patient age, 81 years) are described; 13 (81%) involved women. Animals of five species were involved, with cats and dogs being the most common pet hazard. CONCLUSIONS: Pets are a potential environmental hazard in the occurrence of fall-related injuries in older people, with dogs and cats most likely to be involved. Women appear more likely than men to be injured.