Clinical Factors in Geriatric Blunt Trauma

Objectives This study aimed to determine the clinical factors that contribute to the admission, management, and outcome of blunt trauma to geriatric patients. Methods This prospective, cross sectional study was conducted at a tertiary Emergency Department (ED) between January and April of 2012. Patients were included if they were 65 years and older and were suffering from a blunt trauma. The demographic data, comorbid diseases, quantity of medications, mechanism of injury, history of trauma within the last six months, body region of injury, injury severity score (ISS), in-hospital length of stay (LOS), and final outcome of the patient were recorded. Results The study included 406 geriatric patients (268 (66%) female) with a mean age of all patients being 75.6 +/- 7 years (65-102 years). Extremities and head injury were the most common injury sites. The femoral neck was the most common fracture site (24%). Low velocity fall (LVF) was the most common mechanism of blunt trauma (79%). Advancing age was also significantly related with LVF incidence, fracture incidence and ISS >= 9. Five patients died in the hospital (1.2%). Conclusions LVF was the primary etiology for geriatric blunt trauma. The head and extremities were the most common injury sites and the femoral neck was the most common site of fracture. For fractures, advancing age and polypharmacy (>= 5 agents) and for LVF, female gender was independent risk factors Advancing age and a history significant for stroke were related to the severity of the trauma.