INTRODUCTION: Managing trauma in the elderly is challenging and requires a multidisciplinary team approach. The aim of this study is to characterize and compare outcomes in patients 90 years and older in the last two decades.
METHODS: Retrospective review of trauma patients 90 years and older admitted from 1996 to 2015. The patients were divided into two groups: Early Decade (ED) and Late Decade (LD).
RESULTS: A total of 1697 patients were recorded, 551 (ED) and 1146 (LD). The mean age was 92.92 ± 8(90-108)[ED] and 92.9 ± 2.7(90-105)[LD] years. The most common mechanism and type of injury was falls and extremity trauma. Hospital length of stay (LOS) was shorter in the LD. There was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality or ICU LOS.
CONCLUSION: Trauma admission has increased in the last decade. However, in-hospital mortality remains low. It is important for multidisciplinary teams to allocate resources to treat this elderly population.