Geriatric Trauma Activation.

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Trauma Care
• Trauma System Optimization
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Geriatric-specific trauma team activation criteria were introduced to reduce undertriage in older adults.
• This study evaluates changes in activation volumes and patient outcomes following revised criteria implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of revised trauma team activation criteria on activation rates and outcomes in geriatric trauma patients.
• To analyze resource utilization and patient disposition post-guideline revision.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of data from a level I trauma center's registry and a nonregistry repository.
• Inclusion criteria: patients aged 65 years or older with blunt trauma, analyzed pre- and post-guideline revision.
• Examination of trauma team activation rates, resource use, and patient outcomes.

Main Results:

• Trauma team activations significantly increased post-revision for both registry and nonregistry patients.
• Elderly falls on antithrombotics became the most common activation criterion.
• Activated patients showed lower Injury Severity Scores, reduced mortality, and increased emergency department to home discharge rates.

Conclusions:

• Revised criteria led to a marked increase in trauma activations, with a notable proportion involving minor injuries or no injuries.
• Increased activations were primarily driven by elderly falls on antithrombotics.
• Opportunities for optimizing resource utilization within the trauma system may exist.