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Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

DOI

10.3906/sag-1207-67

Abstract

To analyze the injury characteristics of younger and older adult trauma victims. Materials and methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional, observational, and single-center study including both younger adult and geriatric trauma patients. The relationships between the age groups and the number of consultations in the emergency department (ED) were compared with analysis of covariance after adjusting for Injury Severity Score (ISS). Results: The data consisted of 779 patients, 131 (16.8%) of whom were elderly. The intensive care unit admission rate was 7.2%. Our results showed a significantly higher incidence of intracranial hemorrhage, fracture and/or dislocation of the femur, and fracture of the thoracic vertebra in the elderly patients, and acute abdomen, bowel injury, and pelvic fracture in younger adults. After adjusting for ISS and total consultations, the length of stay in the ED was significantly shorter in the elderly compared to the younger adults (115 min vs. 132 min; F = 24.2; P < 0.0001). After controlling for ISS, the total number of consultations among the elderly was significantly lower than that of the younger adults (2.07 ± 1.42 vs. 2.53 ± 1.44; P < 0.0001). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the characteristics of seriously injured older adults admitted to our ED differ from those of their younger counterparts.

Keywords

Elderly, geriatric, trauma, injury, health care quality, length of stay, consultation, outcome, emergency department

First Page

464

Last Page

469

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