The Etiology of Trauma in Geriatric Traumatic Patients Refer to an Academic Trauma Center: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: Geriatric trauma refers to injuries sustained by elderly individuals, typically those aged 65 years andolder. The management of geriatric trauma in the Emergency Department requires a comprehensive approachthat takes into account the physiological changes associated with aging, as well as the increased vulnerabilityand complexity of injuries in this population.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study aimed at evaluating the etiology of trauma in geriatric patients referredto the ED of level-1 an academic center. All patients with complaints of trauma are evaluated and patients over65 years enrolled in the study. Data were analyzed by SPSS 26.Results: 319 patients were investigated, 49.8% male and 50.2% female. The most common underlying diseasesare high blood pressure, diabetes type 2, and ischemic heart disease. The most common trauma cause wasfalling from the same level (48.9%), followed by a fall from a height (16.6%), accidents with cars (16%), andmotorcycles (9.1%). The most common injury was extremities trauma (71.5%) following head trauma (13.2%)and chest trauma (6%). The severity of injury in extremities was higher in women, and chest trauma was moresevere in men.Conclusion: The fall and subsequent car accident had the highest frequency as a cause of trauma in elderlypatients admitted to our academic trauma center. Hypertension and diabetes have also been the most commonunderlying diseases. Head and neck injuries are life-threatening and critical in a larger number of patients thanother injuries, and protecting them can be effective in reducing mortality and serious injuries in elderly traumapatients.

Keywords

• geriatrics
• etiology
• trauma center
• fall
• emergencies