In this retrospective cohort study looking at splenic injury management and outcomes in the UK, patients over age 65 had much higher mortality and were more often managed conservatively (vs splenectomy or embolization) despite having a lower splenic injury grade and lower overall injury severity score compared to those under 65. Many factors are possible here including frailty, reluctance to intervene in older patients, and lower mechanism of injury bias away from evaluation and management.
References
Jenkins P, Anton B, Blair G, et al. Traumatic splenic injury in the elderly population: Does management choice affect outcome? Trauma. 2026;0(0). doi:10.1177/14604086261430458
