Prevalence of visual impairment in patients sustaining proximal hip fracture after a simple fall

Abstract

According to epidemiological studies, the 30% of aged 75 years and older is having impaired vision and most of the cases these patients are not in contact of the hospital care staff and community eye services. The visual assessment of older people is essential and helps to minimize the issues related to fall that led to critical problem. The proper vision is required for regain independence and improve the patient’s overall wellbeing. This kind of situation is leading the individual to unintentional injury which is higher among the visually impaired people compared to fully sighted population. Moreover, there are two major reasons for visual impairment that are more susceptible.The study aims to analyze the prevalence of visual impairment in patients sustaining proximal hip fracture after a simple fall at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha.The current study has been conducted at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha. All inpatients of the orthopaedic rehabilitation wards were recuperating from the surgical repair of a fractured neck of femur aged 75 years and above. and all the visual impairment assessed at Ophthalmology OPD. Moreover, the investigator has also invited the patients who sustained their fracture after a simple slip, trip and fall. Apart from this, the mental test of these participants was also done to analyze the ability. In this test the score of seven and above was considered for allowing the patients to take part in the study. There was a full ocular examination of anterior and posterior segment performed by the ophthalmologist using the slit-lamp bio microscope and indirect ophthalmoscope.Visual impairment of criteria 1 sensitivity was 93% and specificity was 91%. Moreover, the likelihood ratio of positive results was 11 and negative result was 0.05. For the criteria 2 the sensitivity was 97% and specificity was 86%. Moreover, the likelihood of positive results was 6 and negative result was 0.02. Apart from this detection of potentially remedial visual impairment sensitivity was 69% and specificity was 91%. The likelihood ratio of positive result was 8 and negative result was 0.2.The vision test and proper ocular examination were underestimated the extent of vision impairment in older adults. As per the outcome of the study, the visual impairment is common in elderly patients with a history of falls. Moreover, the study has suggested that to measure the visual acuity of all elderly patients recuperating from a proximal hip fracture after a simple fall.