UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Geriatric Trauma: Frailty

Category: Trauma

Keywords: Trauma, geriatrics, frailty (PubMed Search)

Posted: 3/1/2025 by Robert Flint, MD (Updated: 4/2/2025)
Click here to contact Robert Flint, MD

This white paper reminds us that age is just a number; frailty is a better predictor of morbidity and mortality after trauma. 
“Frailty, characterized by reduced physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors, is a significant factor influencing recovery from trauma. Individuals with frailty may experience slower healing, higher rates of complications, and longer hospital stays. Tools such as the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) and the Trauma-Specific Frailty Index (TSFI) have been developed to assess frailty systematically, enabling clinicians to predict outcomes and guide treatment decisions.”

References

Trauma in Older Adults: Evidence-Based Guidelines for Optimized Care White Paper
 Trauma Special Interest Group and Geriatric Emergency Medicine Special Interest Group
https://assets.nationbuilder.com/ifem/pages/1768/attachments/original/1740084007/IFEM_Trauma_in_Older_Adults_Evidence-Based_Guidelines_for_Optimized_Care_White_Paper_December_2024.pdf?1740084007
Published: December 2024