What consequences do falls have in older adults?

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    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Most falls in older adults do not lead to severe injuries; only 3% to 5% result in fractures and an additional 5% to 10% cause serious injuries that require medical care. A significant proportion of falls result in minor injuries or no injury at all, and the likelihood of severe outcomes such as hospitalization or chronic pain is relatively low.

    Most falls in older adults do not result in severe enough injury for medical attention. While only about 3–5% of falls in elderly people result in fractures (hip, ankle, etc.), an additional 5–10% of falls cause other serious injuries requiring medical care, including hematoma, concussions, TBI, joint dislocation, severe laceration, sprain, and other disabling soft tissue injury. A further 30–50% of falls result in a variety of minor soft tissue injuries, and the remainder result in trivial or no injury. The percentage of falls that are severe enough to lead to admissions to acute care hospitals or the emergency room, and to end in serious injury, chronic pain, loss of independence, or even death, is small.[1][2] [3]

    What consequences do falls have in older adults? - Examine