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Home> Winter is here! Protect yourself from falls

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, 1 million Americans are injured by falls each year, and the risk increases during the winter months. Falling on ice and snow can cause various injuries, from minor scratches, bumps and bruises to more serious injuries such as fractures and back pain.

OrthoKansas plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Wendt (Richard Wendt) knows very well that falling on ice can cause severe pain. In the cold weather, he was walking towards his car when he was injured.

"My wife called me at work and warned me about how cold it was outside, so I was very careful. When I approached the car, I thought I needed to grab it to avoid falling," he said. "When I reached out to open the door, my feet stretched out from under my body, my hips landed on the ground, and my pelvis was fractured."

Fortunately for Dr. Winter, his fracture did not require surgery, but his hips could not bear weight for the past three months. If surgery is required due to joint separation, recovery takes three to six months, involving plates, screws, and soft tissue healing. The possibility of long-term degenerative changes may also be at hand.

When you fall, it can be scary. You may panic and ignore it, but slips and falls can be serious. Common injuries from falls include:

"The fracture of the distal radius (wrist) is the first injury I have seen, but people can get injured anywhere from the tip of the finger to the collarbone," said Dr. Neal Lintecum, a Kansas orthopedist who specializes in hands, wrists, and wrists. Arm care. "From children to the elderly, anyone falls and gets caught by an outstretched hand, causing a break."

Dr. Winter, who specializes in lower limb problems, shared that he most often deals with people with broken ankles and hips. Falling on ice and snow may also cause injuries such as sprains and strains.

"Young people generally fall more easily than older people. Of course, other problems such as ACL or MCL injuries can also occur, but they are not common," he said.

Back injuries, including sprains and strains, are also common after falls. Monica Hart, a practicing nurse at the Lawrence Spine Care Center, said that time is the best friend for back injuries.

"Although more serious injuries will certainly occur, such as compression fractures or herniated discs, it is important to know that many problems will get better over time. If you just strain your back-it means your arm or There is no local pain in the legs, and you can use conservative treatments, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Advil or Aleve, ice, heat, and massage," she said.

Hart also said that exercise is the key. Avoiding activities may cause your pain to last longer.

“You need to get up and move as soon as possible. The less you move, the longer the pain, so it’s important to stay in bed for no more than three days,” Hart explained.

When you leak, it can be embarrassing and painful. Take a deep breath, calm down, and evaluate your injury. You may just feel pain and need to call your primary care provider.

“If you have bruises or sore limbs and swelling, please wrap and ice the wound and call your doctor in the morning. You can avoid going to the emergency department, which is safe and reasonable,” said Dr. Lintecum.

If your injury is more serious, it's time to go to the emergency room. The ED team sees sprains, strains, fractures and head injuries associated with cold weather every year.

Kenna Young, LMH Health Trauma Coordinator, said: “You should go to the emergency room after a fall for a clear reason.” “If you cannot bear weight, move your limbs or have obvious deformities, you need urgent medical attention. If you fall and hit your head. , Loss of consciousness and taking blood thinners, you also need to be checked."

If you have lumps and mild headaches, it is best to call your primary care provider for advice. However, if you experience seizures, worsening headaches, repeated vomiting, blurred vision or confusion after a blow to the head, go to the emergency room immediately to rule out a serious head injury.

There is no "one size fits all" method to treat injuries caused by falls. This actually depends on the type of injury that occurred and its severity. Although a bruise of the tailbone is very painful, it does not require the same level of intervention as a compound fracture of the leg. If you are not injured in an emergency that caused you to go to the emergency room, please call your doctor first.

"If the pain is beyond your capacity, your primary care provider may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, short-term pain relievers or even injections to control your pain," Hart said.

You may also be referred to an expert for additional evaluation. The team at OrthoKansas-a regional destination for progressive multidisciplinary orthopedics and sports medicine care-provides treatment to patients of all ages and abilities-not just athletes. During your first visit, you want to take X-rays so that your provider can rule out fractures or other structural injuries.

"Soft tissue injuries, such as torn ligaments, are the possibility of falls. We need to rule out these because they may require surgery. If we don’t see those or fractures and everything looks fine, we will treat your symptoms, "Dr. Lintecum said.

The course of treatment will depend on the patient’s age and many factors, including the severity of the injury, activity level, and other needs. It is also possible to correct your injury with surgery, but it is not always the first line of treatment. It is important to remember that your doctor will exhaust conservative treatment options, such as medication and physical therapy, before determining whether surgery is right for you.

"You may use a brace or splint, and you may need physical therapy, either to improve your limbs or to show you how to use them like crutches," said Dr. Winter.

Upper limb injuries that require surgical intervention or prolonged casting may become stiff and require formal treatment to correct it. Jamie Starcevich, a certified hand therapist at LMH Health West Campus, said people treated in an orthopedic setting may be referred to her or Carol Ryan.

"In the orthopedic environment, we try to restore strength, mobility, and function to people who have injured shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands," she said. "We see people with fractures, tendon injuries, local nerve injuries (such as carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome), tendinitis, repetitive strain injuries, and muscle, joint, or nerve damage."

There is no one-size-fits-all plan for treating patients. The length of treatment depends on the type of injury, treatment plan, and healing schedule.

“We may see postoperative patients immediately, often working with them when they start to recover, and weaning them when they start to do more things on their own at home. Starcevich said: “Broken patients may not be able to do so at the beginning. Many, so over time, we will increase their frequency of medical visits. "

Fall prevention-no matter what time of year-is important, especially in inclement weather. If you do not need to go out when the weather is clear or freezing, please stay at home. When you have to risk going out, please stay alert, pay attention to and follow the following safety tips:

"Be more careful when walking the dog," Dr. Winter shared. "If they are chasing a squirrel to take off and you are standing on the ice, you are in trouble."

It is also important to take care of your neighbors, especially those who are elderly or disabled. Make sure you have their contact information so that you can understand their needs and help.

"Clean sidewalks, take out rubbish or shop when the weather is bad. Help them by minimizing their exposure to severe weather," said Dr. Lintecum.

If you, your family, friends or neighbors fall down in inclement weather, please seek help from LMH Health. Our team works closely to provide care for patients, and has clinicians, technology and facilities to provide not only excellent care, but the best anywhere. Believe that we will help you start again.

Autumn is the marketing communications manager of LMH Health.

For media inquiries about LMH Health, please contact: Amy Northrop Communications Director Tel: 785-505-2931 Email: Amy.Northrop@lmh.org

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