[Age-dependent injury tolerance exemplified by fatal pedestrian accidents]

The evaluation of forensic autopsy material from pedestrian accident casualties comprising more than 500 cases confirms that the tolerance of injuries greatly depends on age. Slightly to moderately severe injured persons with ISS values under 30 have a very much lower risk of death from comparable traumatizations in the third and fourth decade of life as compared to children and above all compared to elderly persons. In the case of 20 to 30 year olds, only just under 10% with such accident injuries die as compared to the percentage of deaths in infants is almost 30% and more than 50% in casualties over 70 years old. Longer survival times determine the fatal course. In casualties under 50 years old, the rate of complications (10%-15%) is relatively low, whereas it is about 40% in those over 50 years old. Embolism, pneumonia and protracted shock are at the forefront. The relative intolerance of injuries in elderly traffic accident casualties is essentially due to secondary complications.