Characteristics and Outcomes of Geriatric Patients With Orthopedic Injuries Presenting to the Emergency Department

Geriatric trauma is an increasingly important public health concern, with orthopedic injuries representing a major cause of emergency department visits and hospitalizations among older adults.

The primary objective of this study was to assess the characteristics, injury patterns, emergency department presentations, and clinical outcomes of geriatric patients with orthopedic injuries.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Orthopedics at Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital, Dera Ghazi Khan, from April 2025 to October 2025. A total of 325 patients aged ≥60 years presenting with radiologically confirmed orthopedic injuries were included using non-probability consecutive sampling. Data regarding demographics, comorbidities, mechanisms of injury, emergency presentation, management, complications, and outcomes were collected.

The mean age of patients was 71.8 ± 7.4 years, and females accounted for 56.6% of the cohort. Comorbidities were present in 73.2% of patients, most commonly hypertension (52.9%) and diabetes mellitus (39.1%). Falls were the leading mechanism of injury (67.4%), followed by road traffic accidents (19.4%). Fractures were identified in 80.6% of cases, with hip fractures being the most common (37.2%). On arrival, 29.8% of patients were hemodynamically unstable, and 16% had a Glasgow Coma Scale score <13. A total of 204 patients (62.8%) required hospital admission, and 42.8% underwent operative management. Complications occurred in 21.8% of cases, including pneumonia (5.5%), delirium (4.9%), pressure ulcers (3.7%), and deep vein thrombosis (2.8%). The in-hospital mortality rate was 5.2%.

Geriatric patients presenting with orthopedic injuries demonstrate a high burden of comorbidities, predominantly fall-related trauma, and fracture patterns consistent with age-related fragility.