Geriatric Motorcycle-Related Outcomes: A Pennsylvania Multicenter Study.

Area of Science:

• Trauma Surgery
• Geriatric Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Geriatric patients (GeP) have reduced physiological reserve and more comorbidities, increasing risks after trauma.
• Motorcycle crash injuries (MCCI) affect all ages, but outcomes for GeP are understudied.
• Existing data on elderly recreational injuries are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate mortality and morbidity in geriatric patients (GeP) with motorcycle crash injuries (MCCI).
• To compare outcomes of GeP with non-geriatric patients (NGeP) following MCCI.
• To assess the impact of helmet usage in GeP with MCCI.

Main Methods:

• Multicenter retrospective review of MCCI patients (2016-2020).
• Geriatric patients defined as >= 65 years.
• Propensity score matching (PSM) used to compare GeP and NGeP based on sex, AIS, and ISS.

Main Results:

• After PSM, GeP had more comorbidities but similar mortality rates (1.8% vs 3.2%) compared to NGeP.
• No significant differences in ventilator days, hospital length of stay, or complications were observed.
• Helmet usage was similar between GeP and NGeP groups post-matching.

Conclusions:

• Age >= 65 years was not associated with increased mortality after MCCI when matched for key injury parameters.
• Helmet use did not significantly differ between geriatric and non-geriatric patients.
• Further research on frailty and anticoagulation in GeP with MCCI is warranted.