Beyond the age of 70 years, mortality after a traumatic injury significantly increases in comparison to younger patients. Approximately 60% of trauma in the older patient is due to falls, with 25% from motor vehicle accidents. Older adults have an increased vulnerability to serious injury even with minor mechanisms of trauma, and outcome is affected by physiological changes associated with aging, comorbidities and medications, particularly antihypertensives and anticoagulants. Traumatic injuries may be triggered by an acute medical condition. Around one quarter of older patients in motor vehicle accidents sustain chest trauma such as rib fractures, with associated increased mortality. Fractures of the cervical spine, particularly at the atlanto‐axial complex, are twice as likely in patients over the age of 65 following blunt trauma.
This chapter includes:
Factors to consider when undertaking a primary survey in an older trauma patient
Factors affecting airway management in the injured older adult
How to manage the cervical spine: a discussion on immobilisation, imaging, and particular injury patterns to be aware of.
Major trauma
Geriatric Emergencies ; 146-157
2014-12-29
12 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
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