Falls Validation Study

Traumatic intracranial bleeding is much more prevalent in older adults and has a much worse prognosis as compared to the younger population. Older adults are at risk of traumatic intracranial bleeding because there is loss of the elastic integrity of the cerebral bridging veins and brain atrophy, allowing rapid movements of the brain with trauma. The vast majority of traumatic intracranial bleeding diagnoses in older adults result from low-energy falls from standing or sitting.

In 2015, the Canadian Medical Association called for a national strategy for older adults that would include evidence-based hospital practices. In 2021-22, older adults accounted for about 25% of all Canadian emergency department visits, and older adults who had fallen account for over 3% of visits. This number continues to rise. A conservative estimation using 2022 Canadian Institute of Health Information data suggests there are at least 500,000 emergency department visits from older adults after a fall annually in Canada, yet there is little research evidence to guide testing for intracranial bleeding.

It is difficult for physicians to determine the risk of intracranial bleeding when an older patient has fallen. Diagnosing fall-related intracranial bleeding is an important part of the emergency department assessment. It is critical that older patients with intracranial bleeding are identified early so that they are provided with appropriate medical and neurosurgical care

To address the lack of evidence-based guidance specific to older adults who fall, the Falls Decision Rule was derived to guide the use of brain imaging.

Validation of the Falls Rules would improve image utilization for older adults who have fallen, meaning that intracranial bleeding would be diagnosed on the first emergency department visit. People with very low risk of intracranial bleeding would not need brain imaging which facilitates a faster discharge from the emergency department.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 65 or older
• Present to the emergency department within 48 hours of having a fall
• Fall from standing, from a chair, toilet seat, or bed

Exclusion criteria

• Transferred from another hospital organization after brain imaging
• Leave the emergency department prior to completion of their medical assessment
• Previously enrolled
• Lives outside the hospital catchment area