Age differences in blunt chest trauma: a cross-sectional study

Trauma is the most common cause of presentation to hospital emergency services. After extremity and cranial injuries, blunt thoracic trauma is the third most common injury.

In this study, we aimed to present and assess blunt chest trauma in adults aged below 65 and elderly (age ≥ 65).

In this study, 130 patients (86 young (age 18-64) and 44 elderly (age ≥ 65)) who applied to the emergency department with blunt thoracic trauma between October 2017 and October 2019 were evaluated retrospectively.

Of the patients, 99 (76.1%) were male, and 31 (23.9%) were female. The mean age was 54.41 ±20.13 years, and the patients were between 18 and 95 years of age. The most common cause of blunt thoracic trauma in the elderly group was a fall (n = 27; 61.3%), while in-vehicle traffic accident was most common in the young group (n = 43; 50%). "Flail chest," which is observed as a complication after multiple rib fractures, was present in 1 patient in the young group and in 10 patients in the elderly group; the difference was statistically significant (p > 0.05). Seven (5.3%) patients died. The mean hospital stay was 5.1 (1-60) days, which was borderline-significantly higher in the elderly group (p = 0.056).

Due to its life-threatening properties, the detection of blunt thorax trauma is a priority among multiple-trauma patients. For this reason, an aggressive diagnosis and treatment approach is essential in the whole patient group, especially among the elderly.