Trauma in the elderly patient.

Trauma in the elderly patient. Br J Radiol. 2018 Mar 06;:20170739 Authors: Atinga A, Shekkeris A, Fertleman M, Batrick N, Kashef E, Dick E Abstract Major Trauma Centres and Emergency Departments are treating an increasing number of geriatric trauma patients in the UK. Elderly patients, generally defined as those over the age of 65 years, are more susceptible to injury from lesser mechanisms of trauma than younger adults. The number of geriatric trauma cases is rising yearly, accounting for > 25% of all major trauma cases nationally. The elderly have different physiological reserves and a different response to trauma, due to premorbid frailty, co-existing conditions and prescribed medication. These factors need to be appreciated in trauma triaging, radiological assessment and clinical management. A lower threshold for trauma-call activation is recommended, including a lower threshold for advanced imaging. We will review general principles of trauma in the elderly, outline injury patterns in this age group and illustrate the radiological features per anatomical site, from head to pelvis and the extremities. We advocate using contrast-enhanced CT as the primary diagnostic imaging modality as concern about intravenous contrast agent-induced nephropathy is relatively minor. Prompt investigation and diagnosis leads to timely appropriate treatment, therefore the radiologist can discerningly improve morbidity and mortality in this vulnera...
Source: The British Journal of Radiology - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Br J Radiol Source Type: research