Non-hip fracture-associated trauma in the elderly population.

BACKGROUND The rate of trauma in the elderly is growing. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the characteristics of non-hip fracture-associated trauma in elderly patients at a level I trauma center. METHODS The study database of this retrospective cohort study was the trauma registry of a level I trauma center. Trauma patients admitted from January 2001 to December 2003 were stratified into different age groups. Patients with the diagnosis of hip fracture were excluded. RESULTS The study group comprised 7629 patients. The non-hip fracture elderly group consisted of 1067 patients, 63.3% women and 36.7% men. The predominant mechanism of injury was falls (70.5%) and most of the injuries were blunt (94.1%). Injury Severity Score was found to increase significantly with age. The average mortality rate among the elderly was 6.1%. Age, ISS, Glasgow Coma Score on admission, and systolic blood pressure on admission were found to be independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS Falls remain the predominant cause of injury in the elderly. Since risk factors for mortality can be identified, an effective community prevention program can help combat the future expected increase in morbidity and mortality associated with trauma in the elderly.