Abstract
Falling dropping is one of the most serious QOL-inhibiting factors in super-geriatric society. In this report we presented diagnostic process of easy falling syndrome with a flow chart.
First of all, it is necessary to get the situation in which patients fell or dropped. Then possibilities of orthopaedic problems should be considered including hip and knee joints or deformities of feet. Drug taking information is also necessary especially psychotropic drugs and antihypertensive agents. Then intrinsic factors are considered by examining neurological symptoms such as vertigo, muscle weakness, spasticity, ataxia, extrapyramidal sign and astasia and abasia.
Pure easy falling syndrome (PEFS), originally proposed by us as a new concept of falling, dropping, may involve various diseases. Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and astasia and abasia from various origin may underlie PEFS. PSP itself can be a risk factor of easy falling. Some symptoms of NPH as gait disturbance and postural reflex disturbance will be improved with CSF shunt operation, while neck traction is helpful for symptomatic improvement for cervical astasia and abasia.
For the QOL improvement of aging population, studying the neuromechanism of falling, dropping and establishing the prevention system will be urgently necessary.
