Geriatric Trauma Management

Publication Date: November 20, 2023
Last Updated: November 22, 2023

Introduction and Acute Care

Overview

  • Trauma in older adults is increasing, both in number of cases and as a proportion of the total trauma center volume.
  • Unintentional injury is the seventh leading cause of death for older adults.
  • The outcomes for older adult trauma patients are worse than for younger trauma patients; older age is an independent risk factor for mortality.
  • Falls are the most common cause of injury in older adults and the leading cause of fatal injury.
  • Suicide rates are highest among older adults when compared with other age groups.

Frailty and Comorbidities

Frailty

  • Optimal trauma care of the older adult patient must factor in any comorbidities, geriatric-specific syndromes, and reduced physiologic reserve.
  • Frailty syndrome involves decreased physiologic reserves across multiple organ systems, and it is associated with worse outcomes and increased mortality.
  • In trauma patients, frailty is often more predictive of adverse outcomes than age.
  • The Trauma-Specific Frailty Index (TSFI) is an effective, validated tool that can aid clinicians in identifying high risk patients and planning their care.
  • Early assessment and identification of patients with frailty is essential to optimize their care by involving interprofessional teams and implementing focused management plans.

Overview

Title

Geriatric Trauma Management

Authoring Organizations