@article{ref1,
title="Are there any red flag injuries in severely injured patients in older age?",
journal="Journal of clinical medicine",
year="2021",
author="Kerschbaum, Maximilian and Worlicek, Michael and Alt, Volker and Ernstberger, Antonio and Frankewycz, Borys and Popp, Daniel and Lang, Siegmund",
volume="10",
number="2",
pages="e185-e185",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: Severely injured elderly patients pose a significant burden to trauma centers and, compared with younger patients, have worse prognoses and higher  mortality rates after major trauma. The objective of this study was to identify the  etiological mechanisms that are associated with severe trauma in elderly patients  and to detect which injuries correlate with high mortality in elderly patients. <br><br>METHODS: Using a prospect cohort study model over an 11-year period, severely  injured patients (ISS ≥ 16) were divided into two age groups (Group 1: 18-64; Group  2: 65-99 years). A comparison of the groups was conducted regarding injury  frequency, trauma mechanism, distribution of affected body parts (AIS and ISS  regions) and injury related mortality. <br><br>RESULTS: In total, 1008 patient were included  (Group 1: n = 771; Group 2: n = 237). The most relevant injury in elderly patients  was falling from low heights (<3 m) in contrast to traffic accident in young  patients. Severely injured patients in the older age group showed a significantly  higher overall mortality rate compared to the younger group (37.6% vs. 11.7%; p =  0.000). In both groups, the 30-day survival for patients without head injuries was  significantly better compared to patients with head injuries (92.7% vs. 85.3%; p =  0.017), especially analyzing elderly patients (86.6% vs. 58.6%; p = 0.003). The  relative risk of 30-day mortality in patients who suffered a head injury was also  higher in the elderly group (OR: Group 1: 4.905; Group 2: 7.132). <br><br>CONCLUSION: In  contrast to younger patients, falls from low heights (<3 m) are significant risk  factors for severe injuries in the geriatric collective. Additionally, elderly  patients with an ISS ≥ 16 had a significantly higher mortality rate compared to  severe injured younger patients. Head injuries, even minor head traumata, are  associated with a significant increase in mortality. These findings will contribute  to the development of more age-related therapy strategies in severely injured  patients.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2077-0383",
doi="10.3390/jcm10020185",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jcm10020185"
}