Geriatric trauma: a case study

Major advances in health care have made it possible for a greater number of people to live to advanced age and thereby be exposed to the same risk of injury as the younger segment of the population. Elderly trauma victims, however, possess unique needs that must be addressed. Comorbidity, the aging process, and its relationship to the response to injury, as well as ethical and moral dilemmas such as "do not resuscitate" decisions and cost of care, need to be investigated. Although advanced age clearly predisposes one to an increase in mortality, mortality has also been correlated with complications that develop during the hospital stay. Trauma, especially involving the elderly, is a rich area for nursing research, and a refined knowledge base contributes to improving the quality of trauma care.