title: Geriatric trauma.
abstract: Elderly trauma patients present unique challenges and face more significant obstacles to recovery than younger patients. Despite overall higher mortality, longer length of stay, increased resource use, and higher rates of discharge to rehabilitation, most elderly trauma patients return to independent or preinjury functional status. Critical to improving these outcomes is an understanding that although similar trauma principles apply to the elderly, these patients require more aggressive evaluation and resuscitation. This article reviews the recent developments in the literature regarding care of the elderly trauma patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, One Deaconess Road, W/CC-2, Boston, MA 02215, USA. dcallawa@bidmc.harbard.edu
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Callaway
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wolfe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004630:Emergencies; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000293:injuries; D012151:Resuscitation; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D014218:Triage; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy