People of any age can face serious injury from a fall, but certain populations are at a greater risk. Most people are aware that older adults are at greater risk of head damage from a fall, but recent research suggests that sex also plays a role. A study from Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine comparing geriatric males and females showed that males were significantly more likely to have head fractures secondary to head trauma after a fall.
Here are some of the high-level details of the study:
- The study involved 5,402 patients, of which 56% were female and 44% were male. All of them had a similar average age (82.8 for females and 81.1 for males);
- The aim of the study was to compare skull fracture outcomes on the following bases: sex, how the injury was sustained, and the race/ethnicity of the patient;
- Across all races and injury mechanisms, the data showed that male patients were more likely to have a skull fracture caused by head trauma.
Up to now, there has been limited research on this topic; however, researchers noted that it is worth further probing, especially as the number of geriatric individuals in the United States increases. It is interesting to note that sex also seems to play a role in the likelihood of a falling accident, with a 2016 report from the National Trauma Database showing that 58% of people 65 or older who went to the emergency room for a fall were female. Head trauma and subsequent issues like traumatic brain injury and skull fractures can have significant short-term and long-term consequences, so individuals who are involved in a slip and fall accident may find it valuable to contact a lawyer regarding potential avenues to seek damages.