Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 2006 , Vol 9, Issue 4
DISABILITY DUE TO TRAUMA IN THE ELDERLY
Ankara Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Adli Tıp Anabilim Dalı ANKARA Background and Aims: In our country, there is not sufficient data about disability in elderly. In this study, we aimed to determine the features of old people who were evaluated for disability.

Materials and Methods: It was a retrospective type of research. The people aged 60 years and older who applied to Forensic Medicine Department, Medical School of Ankara University, were researched in the respect of demographic features, kind of trauma, treatment, lesions taken into account in measurement of disabilities, the rate of disabilities.

Results: 56.6% of fifty-two people who were evaluated were males. The mean age was 66.29 years. Road traffic accidents were the first reason of injury and 65.4% of cases had lower extremity fractures. 73.1% were had surgical treatment. Pelvis and lower extremity impairments were the first place in lesions taken into account in estimation of the rate of disability.

Conclusion: In our country, it is necessary to research long term effects of traumas in the elderly and to develop health policies. Keywords : Disability, Elderly, Trauma