Citation

Korkmaz T, Erkol Z, Karamansoy N. Turk Geriatri Derg. 2014; 17(3): 249-255.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Geriatri Derneği)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to analyze the characteristics of geriatric forensic cases who were admitted to the Emergency Department and to investigate them from the forensic perspective in order to develop prevention programs.; Materials and Method: Patient charts, forensic reports and computerized patient records of geriatric forensic cases, who were admitted to our emergency department from 01.01.2008 to 30.06.2012, were investigated retrospectively.; Results: A total 143 forensic geriatric cases with a median age of 71.00±0.50 were included in the study. The most common incidents were traffic accidents (48.3%) and falls (26.6%). The mean time period for reaching the hospital was 109.2±237.3 minute; more than half (n=75) of the cases suffered head and neck injuries; no consultations from other departments were required for the majority of cases (70.6%), and 58% were discharged from the Emergency Department. Fractures (26.6%) and soft tissue injuries (24.5%) were the most common medical diagnoses; tendon cuts were not encountered in falls and traffic accident cases, and soft tissue injuries and in-tracranial hemorrhages were not encountered in penetrating injury cases. Intracranial hemorrhages were more common among fall cases, and soft tissue injuries were more common in traffic accident cases.; Conclusion: Our investigation revealed that traffic accidents and falls were the most common forensic cases among the geriatric age group. Educational initiatives and legal measures addressing the safety of elders, when seriously and determinedly conducted, will help to reduce injuries in the geriatric age group. © 2014, Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

human; burn; female; male; aged; forensic psychiatry; traffic accident; suicide attempt; intoxication; morbidity; spring; Emergency medical services; major clinical study; forensic identification; fracture; retrospective study; hospital admission; Geriatrics; patient coding; emergency ward; falling; geriatric patient; head and neck injury; Wounds and injuries; brain hemorrhage; soft tissue injury; summer; winter; occupational accident; Article; animal behavior; pedestrian; autumn; tendon injury; battering; falling object; Legal cases; stab cut injury