title: Trauma in the older adult: epidemiology and evolving geriatric trauma principles.
abstract: The older adult patient with trauma is becoming a growing part of the overall trauma population. With the world population increasing in age, the rate of the traumatically injured older adult will continue to increase. Recognizing this problem and the fact that the elderly are at higher risk for injury and its complications will be necessary if the increasing volume of patients is to be dealt with. This review discusses these issues, as well as appropriate triage and treatment of injuries and associated comorbidities. Early recognition of injury, even minor, and expedited care using specialized teams will help to improve outcomes for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Washington University in St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonne
authors.forename: Douglas J E
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Schuerer
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D014193:Trauma Centers; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014218:Triage / Q000639:trends*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy