This retrospective study looked at trauma patients over age 65 and divided them into age ranges 65-80 (geriatric) and 80 plus (super-geriatric). They then looked at mechanusm of injury, mortality, interventions,etc. What they found was ages 65-80 were more likely to be injured in motor vehicle crashes vs. falls for those over 80. Those over 80 received less interventions including hemmorhage control surgery and had much higher levels of withdrawal of care.
This study highlights that the geriatric population is not as a monolithic group over age 65, but more nuanced by various age ranges over 65. Research going forward should be adjusted to these nuanced age ranges. Out treatment approaches should be adjusted in geriatric vs. super-geriatric patients as well.
References
El-Qawaqzeh K, Anand T, Alizai Q, Colosimo C, Hosseinpour H, Spencer A, Ditillo M, Magnotti LJ, Stewart C, Joseph B. Trauma in the Geriatric and the Super-Geriatric: Should They Be Treated the Same? J Surg Res. 2024 Jan;293:316-326. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.09.015. Epub 2023 Oct 6. PMID: 37806217.
