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Abdominal trauma in persons older than 60 years
Acta Chirurgica Scandinavica
|January 1, 1982
Summary
Elderly individuals over 60 experienced higher rates of severe abdominal trauma and mortality, primarily from road traffic accidents. This trend highlights the growing need for specialized care as the population ages.
Area of Science:
- Trauma Surgery
- Geriatric Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Abdominal trauma presents unique challenges in the elderly population.
- A 30-year review (1950-1979) in Sweden examined trauma cases in individuals over 60.
- This demographic represented 12.5% of all abdominal trauma cases during the study period.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the characteristics, causes, and outcomes of abdominal trauma in patients aged 60 and older.
- To compare injury patterns and mortality rates in elderly patients versus the general trauma population.
- To identify trends in abdominal trauma over three decades.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 177 patients aged 60+ with abdominal trauma.
- Analysis of injury types, causes (road traffic accidents), and severity.
- Comparison of mortality rates between elderly and younger trauma patients.
Main Results:
- Road traffic accidents were the primary cause (48%), with increasing incidence early in the study.
- Elderly patients had more frequent liver/bile duct and multiple intra-abdominal injuries.
- Abdominal wall injuries were less common; severe and multiple traumas increased over time.
- Mortality rate for those over 60 was 27.6%, significantly higher than the overall 9.1%.
Conclusions:
- Abdominal trauma in the elderly is associated with more severe injuries and higher mortality.
- One-third of deaths in older patients were directly attributed to abdominal trauma.
- The aging population will likely lead to an increased incidence of abdominal trauma in older age groups.