[Injuries in nursing homes. Hospital-based registration of injuries of patients in nursing homes].

109 patients were registered in a prospective study of accidents occurring in geriatric nursing homes and treated in Harstad Hospital. In more than 50% the seriousness of the injury was so high that in-patient treatment was necessary. More than 90% of the patients had fallen and 50 patients had suffered fracture of the proximal femur. The incidence of injury is higher than the estimated 13% average, and the seriousness of the injury is substantially higher than the average for all age groups.