Consecuencias de las caídas en un centro geriátrico para ancianos válidos. Estudio descriptivo / Consequences of falls in a geriatric nursing center for valid. Descriptive study

Objetivo. Conocer las consecuencias inmediatas producidas en las caídas que sufre la población anciana válida institucionalizada en los últimos doce meses. Método. Estudio descriptivo trasversal, mediante entrevista personal. Se realizó un muestreo aleatorio simple. El ámbito de estudio correspondió a un centro geriátrico privado. Los instrumentos de medida utilizados en el estudio fueron el Mini Examen Cognoscitivo de Lobo (MEC-35, 1979) para valorar inicialmente el nivel cognitivo de los ancianos participantes en el estudio, y el cuestionario de la OMS para el estudio de caídas en el anciano 1989. Resultados. De las 21 caídas producidas en los últimos doce meses se comprobó que el 61.9 % de ellas correspondieron al sexo femenino, frente al 38.1 %, que recayeron en el sexo masculino. En el 52.4 % de los casos, las caídas no ocasionaron ninguna consecuencia. El 28.6 % de las caídas ocasionaron heridas superficiales o contusiones, mientras que la proporción de fracturas correspondió a un 19 % para ambos sexos. La mayoría de las caídas no produjeron consecuencias inmediatas (el 52.4 % de los casos). En segundo lugar, encontramos las heridas superficiales o contusiones, con un 28.6 %, y finalmente las fracturas, con una proporción del 19 %. Conclusiones: Los investigadores del estudio consideran necesario la implicación de los profesionales sanitarios y la implementación de estrategias preventivas que logren disminuir la prevalencia de caídas. Esto permitirá mejorar satisfactoriamente la calidad de vida de nuestros mayores (AU)

Objective. To address the immediate consequences produced in the falls suffered by valid institutionalized elderly population in the last twelve months. Method. A cross sectional study, by personal interview. Simple random sampling was performed. The study area corresponded to a private nursing home. The measuring instruments used in the study were the Mini Mental State Examination Lobo (MEC- 35, 1979) to initially assess the level of cognitive development elderly study participants, and the WHO questionnaire for the study of falls in the elder 1989. Results. Of the 21 drops produced in the last twelve months was found that 61.9 % of falls were female, compared to 38.1 % who relapsed in males. 52.4 % of falls are not caused any consequences. 28.6 % of falls caused superficial injuries and/or bruises, while the proportion of fractures corresponded to 19 % for both sexes. Most of the falls did not produce immediate consequences whose percentage was 52.4 % of cases. Second are superficial wounds and/or bruises with 28.6 % and finally fractures with a ratio of 19 %. Conclusions. The investigators considered the necessity of involvement of health professionals and the implementation of preventive strategies that can reduce the prevalence of falls. This will successfully improve the quality of life of the elderly (AU)

Acidentes de trajeto com motocicletas entre trabalhadores de uma indústria têxtil / Accidentes in itinere envolviendo motocicletas entre los trabajadores de una industria textil / Road accidents with motorcycles among workers of a textile industry

Objective: To identify the profile of victims of road accidents with involvement of motorcycles among workers of a textile industry in the Rio Grande do Norte State. Method: This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study, with data collected from medical records and registrations from the company itself in the period from 2008 to 2009. Results: It has unveiled 81 cases of accidents with workers involving motorcycles, of which 62% were males, with higher incidence between 22 and 25 years; 69% needed removal equal to or less than 15 days; when the removal time was greater than 15 days, the average was 274,3 days; 71% suffered injuries on the lower and upper limbs. Conclusion: The recognition of these characteristics is useful to subsidize strategies for preventing motorcycle accidents and improving the reference emergency service.

Objetivo: Identificar o perfil das vítimas de acidentes de trajeto com envolvimento de motocicletas entre trabalhadores de uma indústria têxtil do Rio Grande do Norte. Método: Estudo transversal, descritivo, com dados coletados nos prontuários e registros da própria indústria no período de 2008 a 2009. Resultados: 81 casos de acidentes com trabalhadores envolvendo motocicletas, dos quais 62% eram do sexo masculino, com maior incidência entre 22 e 25 anos; 69% necessitaram de afastamento igual ou inferior a 15 dias; quando o afastamento foi superior a 15 dias, a média foi de 274,3 dias; 71% sofreram lesões em membros inferiores e superiores. Conclusão: O reconhecimento dessas características é útil para subsidiar estratégias de prevenção dos acidentes de motos e o aprimoramento do serviço de referência em emergência.

Objetivo: Identificar el perfil de las víctimas de accidentes in itinere con envolvimiento de motocicletas entre trabajadores de una industria textil en el Estado de Rio Grande do Norte. Método: Estudio descriptivo, transversal, con datos recogidos en archivos médicos y registros de la propia industria en el período comprendido entre 2008 y 2009. Resultados: 81 casos de accidentes con trabajadores envolviendo motocicletas, de los cuales 62% eran hombres, con mayor incidencia entre 22 y 25 años; 69% necesitaron de alejamiento igual o inferior a 15 días; Cuando el alejamiento fue mayor que 15 días, el promedio fue de 274,3 días; 71% han sufrido lesiones en los miembros inferiores y superiores. Conclusión: El reconocimiento de estas características es útil para respaldar estrategias de prevención de accidentes de motocicletas y la optimización del servicio de referencia en emergencia.

La enfermedad trauma / The disease trauma

Reports of the World Health Organization make known that the non-intentional lesions and the violence (intentional injuries) are a threatening possibility for the world's health and they represent a 9% of the whole mortality. Around 5.840.000 subjects die yearly due to lesions (16.000 subjects each day). Eight of the 15 causes of death, of the persons between 15 trough 25 years old are related to violence or non-intentional injuries, whether they are produced by vehicular collisons, suicides, homicides, suffocation, burns, wars, poisoning or falls. In Argentina, each year 8.000 subjects die due to vehicular collisions. According with the National Ministery of Health, this number represents the 25% of the deaths due to trauma. We think that it is interesting to present two aspects that require a conceptualization with a scientific support: The recognition of trauma as a disease (the disease trauma), and the necessity to not use the term accident to design the lesional mechanism described for non-intentional trauma. The participation of Institutions in the control of the disease trauma is considered by the authors.

La enfermedad trauma / The disease trauma

Reports of the World Health Organization make known that the non-intentional lesions and the violence (intentional injuries) are a threatening possibility for the worlds health and they represent a 9% of the whole mortality. Around 5.840.000 subjects die yearly due to lesions (16.000 subjects each day). Eight of the 15 causes of death, of the persons between 15 trough 25 years old are related to violence or non-intentional injuries, whether they are produced by vehicular collisons, suicides, homicides, suffocation, burns, wars, poisoning or falls. In Argentina, each year 8.000 subjects die due to vehicular collisions. According with the National Ministery of Health, this number represents the 25% of the deaths due to trauma. We think that it is interesting to present two aspects that require a conceptualization with a scientific support: The recognition of trauma as a disease (the disease trauma), and the necessity to not use the term accident to design the lesional mechanism described for non-intentional trauma. The participation of Institutions in the control of the disease trauma is considered by the authors.(AU)