Professional paper
Polytrauma in Elderly
Nikola Gržalja
Igor Saftić
Marin Marinović
Damir Štiglić
Tedi Cicvarić
Abstract
The aim of this study is to present certain particularities in treating polytraumatized patients age of 65 and above. All
of the patients were treated in our hospital. 413 patients were included in this 4 year study (2006–2010). Injury severity
score was 17 and above (ISS>17). Patients aged above 65 were sub grouped. In this 4-year period, we treated 52 or 13%
elderly patients. In this subgroup there were 30 (58%) males and 22 (42%) females, with mean age of 74 (max age 95
years old). Demographic factors, injury mechanisms, patients resuscitation protocols, imaging used, etc. were also included
as variables. Mortality rate in elderly patients was 31%, while in patients below 65 years of age as 12%. Taking
relevant data into consideration, a special emphasis was given to certain circumstances of intensive and surgical treatment
of elderly patients. A large portion of polytraumatized patients are consisted of elderly. Patients aged 65 and above
have higher mortality rate with lower ISS in the mortal group and falls are the most frequent mechanism of trauma. In
this study, we tried to emphasize some clinical implications when treating those patients, as well as importance in continuous
medical staff education in trauma principles to minimize mortality rates.
Keywords
aged; elderly; Injury Severity Score; multiple trauma; mortality; trauma
Hrčak ID:
72278
URI
Publication date:
25.9.2011.
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