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The purpose of this study was to examine the hospital course and outcomes of elderly trauma patients. We accomplished a retrospective review of all consecutive trauma patients admitted to a level II trauma center from January 2000 to April 2002. Gender, Injury Severity Score (ISS), length of stay (LOS), operative procedure, morbidity, and mortality of patients ≥90 years of age were compared with younger patients. Of 2645 trauma admissions, 137 patients (5%) were ≥90 years (range, 90 to 108 years; mean, 93.1 years); 5 patients were ≥100 years. One hundred eleven (81%) patients were female; 26 (19%) male. Average ISS for patients ≥90 was 8.75 and was 7.78 for younger patients. One hundred sixteen elderly patients (85%) had ISS < 15. Falls were the most common mechanism of injury (93%), usually ground-level falls (64%). Two hundred ninety-two injuries included 133 fractures and 102 soft tissue injuries. Thirty-four elderly patients (25%) and 733 younger patients (29%) required surgery. Complications developed in 8 per cent of older and 6 per cent of younger patients. Hospital LOS averaged 4.36 days for older and 3.51 days for younger patients. Six older (4.4%) and 63 younger (2.5%) patients died. ISS scores and LOS were slightly higher in elderly patients, but morbidity and mortality were comparable in both groups.

The purpose of this study was to examine the hospital course and outcomes of elderly trauma patients. We accomplished a retrospective review of all consecutive trauma patients admitted to a level II trauma center from January 2000 to April 2002. Gender, Injury Severity Score (ISS), length of stay (LOS), operative procedure, morbidity, and mortality of patientsor = 90 years of age were compared with younger patients. Of 2645 trauma admissions, 137 patients (5%) wereor = 90 years (range, 90 to 108 years; mean, 93.1 years); 5 patients wereor = 100 years. One hundred eleven (81%) patients were female; 26 (19%) male. Average ISS for patientsor = 90 was 8.75 and was 7.78 for younger patients. One hundred sixteen elderly patients (85%) had ISS15. Falls were the most common mechanism of injury (93%), usually ground-level falls (64%). Two hundred ninety-two injuries included 133 fractures and 102 soft tissue injuries. Thirty-four elderly patients (25%) and 733 younger patients (29%) required surgery. Complications developed in 8 per cent of older and 6 per cent of younger patients. Hospital LOS averaged 4.36 days for older and 3.51 days for younger patients. Six older (4.4%) and 63 younger (2.5%) patients died. ISS scores and LOS were slightly higher in elderly patients, but morbidity and mortality were comparable in both groups.