Citation

MacDonald SL, Robinson LR. Am. J. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PHM.0000000000001458

PMID

32379073

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe potential age-related differences in injury type and mechanism, comorbidities, and PM&R-relevant complications in patients admitted after major trauma and to examine whether functional outcomes vary by age group after traumatic injury.

DESIGN: This is a sub-analysis of a previous before- and after-study. Individuals admitted to a level 1 trauma center who sustained major trauma were divided into three age groups (young, middle-age, and elderly). The demographic, acute care, and rehabilitation factors for these patients were then compared across the three age groups.

RESULTS: Based on an age distribution plot, the age categories were defined as follows: young, 18-39 y/o (n=120); middle-age 40-64 y/o (n=124); and elderly >65 y/o (n=85). Patients >65 years demonstrated a greater frequency of comorbidities (p<.001) and complications (p<.001). For individuals admitted to inpatient rehabilitation, admission and discharge FIM scores were lower for the elderly, but FIM change was not significantly different between groups.

CONCLUSION: Although the elderly trauma patient demonstrates important differences from the younger one, capacity for improvement with rehabilitation appears similar.

Language: en