Traumatic injuries in older adults, typically defined as individuals aged 65 and older, present unique challenges due to age-related physiological changes and preexisting medical conditions. As the population of older adults continues to grow, so does the incidence of traumatic injuries among this demographic (Southern, et al, 2024). Unintentional injury is the seventh leading cause of death in older adults and falls are the leading cause of injury. Motor vehicle crashes, assaults, suicide and elder abuse are the other mechanisms of injury. Geriatric patients have an increased risk of poor outcomes related to conditions such cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, multiorgan insufficiency and frailty. Frailty is also a strong predictor of poor outcome (Joseph, et al, 2014). Patients’ age and the mechanism of injury appear to be correlated with injury severity in older adults. Rigorous evaluation, care management, and rehabilitation should be the focus of geriatric trauma management. Understanding essential aspects of trauma care begins with a solid understanding of the unique epidemiologic patterns, injury mechanisms, and pathophysiological responses seen in geriatric trauma patients.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the age-related physiological changes that increase the risk of complications in older trauma patients.
- Screen for cognitive impairments and comorbidities that may affect trauma management and recovery in older adults.
- Discuss the importance of multidisciplinary medical and trauma management of the trauma patient.
Members who are logged will be provided with a CE Credit link (below) for the duration of 3 years from the original presentation date (noted above). After 3 years, CE will no longer be made available. Members however are still welcome to watch the presentation independently for non-CE credit.
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Speaker(s):Elwood Conaway
Elwood has more than 38 years of military experience, including multiple combat deployments. Clinically, he has been a trauma critical care nurse for over 28 years in Level I/ II trauma centers. He has presented locally and internationally and has authored multiple poster presentations. He was intricate part in the development of the international trauma guidelines in the UAE and built the infrastructure for a new level II facility in California. Currently he is the Trauma Program Manager at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.
