Approximately 88% of all upper arm fractures are caused in slip and fall accidents, and senior citizens above the age 65 comprise a major section of the population at risk of such fractures.  In fact, according to new research, the number of baby boomers who are at risk of upper arm fractures, or humerus fractures, is likely to increase as the population of persons above the age of 65 increases.

According to the research, by the year 2030, the number of such upper arm fractures could increase by nearly 1/3^rd.  The researchers looked at approximately 28,000,000 ER visits in 2008, and found 300,000 cases of upper arm fractures.  While children between the age of 5 and 9 did comprise the highest number of such fractures, senior citizens also constituted a fair amount of upper arm fractures.

Seniors are at a special risk for upper arm fractures, because these fractures are typically caused in slip and fall accidents.  Seniors may be at a high risk of slipping, tripping and falling, because of age-related conditions, like reduced vision, poor coordination and poor body balance.  Additionally, seniors may suffer from reduced bone mineral density, a condition called osteoporosis that also increases their fracture risks.

As the number of persons above 65 increases, Los Angeles slip and fall lawyers expect to see a huge section of the population that is at a high risk for such debilitating upper arm fractures.  This is the reason why there needs to be greater focus on reducing fall hazards among senior citizens.  That includes not just fall hazards in the home, but also those in nursing homes, as well as commercial spaces.

Seniors now don’t just live longer lives than their parents did, but also more active ones.  This means increased senior pedestrian traffic in places like hotels, restaurants, malls and other commercial spaces.  Owners of these properties need to take senior fall accident hazards into consideration in the design and construction stages.

A new study by researchers from Syracuse University in New York has both good and bad news for seniors.  The bad news is that senior citizens who are obese may be at a higher risk of a slip and fall accident than normal weight individuals.  The good news is that some obese individuals may be at a lower risk of serious injuries in a fall.

Obese people may be at a higher risk of a fall, because they have difficulties in balance, and may be less capable of blocking or stopping a fall.  However, seniors who are severely obese, or have a BMI of 40 or higher, may have a lower risk of fractures and other serious injuries during a fall accident.  These people have extra padding on the body that can cushion them from serious injuries.  The additional protection from fractures and serious injuries in a fall accident do not seem to apply to seniors who are moderately obese.

But seniors who are severely obese and are injured seriously enough to require hospitalization may recover much slower.  These people are in a poor medical condition, and may suffer from a number of other conditions like hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease that lower their chances of recovering quickly.

San Fernando Valley slip and fall accident lawyers conclude from this study that even though severely obese adults enjoy some form of protection against serious injuries like fractures in fall accidents, the overall health risks for these people after a fall accident are too serious to ignore.  Seniors must maintain optimum weight, and exercise regularly to maintain bone health and prevent disability and falls.  Eliminate fall hazards from the home, like floors that can trip you.  Install railings and grab bars in bathrooms to prevent falls.

Doctors at the Royal Glasgow Infirmary have successfully used an ultrasound device to treat serious fractures much more quickly.  The doctors report that the devices were used in the successful treatment of complicated and multiple fractures.

The device is strapped to the broken bone, allowing the bone to benefit from the ultrasound waves.  These waves trigger regeneration of new bone cells, hasten cell maturity, and accelerate the healing process.  The device destroys bacteria that can cause infections.

This is a relatively painless and convenient therapy that speeds up the process of healing a fracture by as much as 40%.  Researchers have successfully used the therapy to treat fractures that were believed to be untreatable.  Some of these cases involve multiple fractures, involving an initial prognosis that the broken bone could not be mended and the leg had to be amputated.  With the use of the ultrasound device, the multiple fractures healed quickly.  The treatment is expensive right now, but there is reason to hope that the treatment will become more affordable as the use of the ultrasound device increases.

That could mean quicker and more convenient treatment for hundreds of thousands of people who suffer broken bones in auto accidents, trip and fall accidents and workplace accidents every year.  For people who suffer from serious and complex fractures, the device could also offer alternatives to more drastic measures like amputation.

The significance of the fact that this treatment has been perfected at the Royal Glasgow Infirmary is not lost on Los Angeles serious injury lawyers.  Glasgow was the birthplace of ultrasound more than fifty years ago.  A team of specialists then successfully reproduced images of the human body using sonar.  Ultrasound is currently used successfully for diagnosis, especially for prenatal monitoring.

Millions of people cross the threshold of the hotels in Las Vegas every year. Those footsteps all cause wear and tear on the sidewalks, in the hotel entry ways and in the hall corridors. Hopefully, you picked a hotel that maintains those common grounds and takes preventative measure to keep slip and fall accidents from happening. But if you don’t have a careful hotel, you need to be aware of your options.

A slip and fall accident doesn’t only happen on the snow and ice of the Midwest. Slip and fall accidents can be caused by the rain, a broken or cracked sidewalk, a damaged on uneven floor tile, a bunched up rug or any obstruction in a hallway. Basically, if you fall down and you aren’t drunk, you probably tripped over something that should not have been in your way. If you are the victim of such a slip and fall injury in a Las Vegas hotel, you have certain rights. 

Tell the hotel about your fall and begin documentation immediately. Have your injury checked out by a doctor at a hospital, not one on staff at the hotel. The doctor at the hospital will give you a fair diagnosis and make a recommendation as to your treatment. Once you have a diagnosis, then you can approach the hotel for damages.

The hotel may not be receptive to making and claims to being at fault. You may need to hire an attorney to represent you and get money for damages, or even pain and suffering if you need it. Some slip and fall accidents can be serious and put you off of work for awhile and you will need money in that off time. The hotel should compensate you for that time, but they may require a lawyer’s presence in order to do so willingly. A lawyer’s presence may not be enough and a lawsuit might need to be filed.