Trauma: Trauma in Geriatrics
Elderly
General
- Mechanism of Injury:
- Ground Level Fall – Most Common
- MVC – Second Most Common
- Five Times Higher Mortality than Younger Patients
Predicting Outcome
- Injury Severity Score (ISS) is the Best Overall Predictor of Outcomes
- Admission GCS is a Poor Predictor of Outcome
- Physiologic Age (Affected by Chronic Comorbidities) is a Better Predictor than Chronologic Age
Ground Level Falls (GLF)
- Falls from Standing or Sitting
- Higher Morbidity & Mortality than in Young
- Risk Factors:
- History of Falls – Most Important Risk Factor
- Physical Deconditioning
- Gait Disturbance or Peripheral Neuropathy
- Medical Comorbidities or Medications Causing Orthostatic Hypotension or Syncope
- Home Hazards (Uneven Surfaces, Lack of Stair/Bathroom Handrails, Poor Lighting or Tripping Hazards)
- Age Itself is NOT a Risk Factor for Falls
- Most Common in Females
- Higher Mortality in Males