Elderly Admission Trends at the Puerto Rico Trauma Hospital: A Time-Series Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The aging process places the elderly, a worldwide increasing age group, at an increased risk for trauma. This study aims to explore changes over time in admission rates, sociodemographical, clinical, and injury-related data in elderly patients (aged ≥65 y) admitted to the Puerto Rico Trauma Hospital (PRTH) during 2000-2019. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A time-series analysis was conducted. Admission rates were analyzed by fitting an exponential growth curve model. Trends were assessed using the Cochrane-Armitage and Cuzick tests for categorical and continuous data, respectively. RESULTS: Elderly admission rates to the PRTH have shown growth over the past 2 decades, from 6.2 cases per 100 overall admissions in 2000 to 18.2 in 2019. This trend is projected to continue with estimated 24.8 (95% CI: 21.7-27.8) cases per 100 overall admissions in 2023. Trends for mechanisms of injury such as motor vehicle accidents and pedestrians showed a significant decrease, whereas falls presented a clear positive trend, showing an increase from 25.6% in 2000-2004 to 46.2% in 2015-2019. Both Injury Severity Score ≥25 and Glasgow Coma Scale ≤8 declined significantly through time. Finally, in-hospital mortality presented a decreasing trend from 31.7% in 2000-2004 to 21.5% in 2015-2019. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis demonstrates an increase over time in elderly admissions, especially fall-related trauma. Also, it projects this upward trend will continue. This imposes new challenges for PRTH and other healthcare services and is a gateway for the implementation of adapted clinical management.

Traumatismo torácico en el adulto mayor / Thoracic trauma in the elderly

Resumen Introducción: Los traumatismos constituyen la quinta causa de muerte en el adulto mayor (60 años o más), siendo los traumatismos contusos los más frecuentes. Objetivo: Describir características, índices de gravedad de traumatismo (IGT), morbilidad y mortalidad en adultos mayores (AM) hospitalizados con traumatismo torácico (TT). Materiales y Método: Estudio descriptivo transversal. Período desde enero de 1981 a diciembre de 2017. Revisión de base de datos, protocolos quirúrgicos y fichas clínicas. Descripción de características de TT en AM hospitalizados. Se calculó IGT: Injury Severity Score (ISS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS-T), Trauma Injury Severity Score (TRISS). Resultados: Total 4.163 TT, AM 513 (12,3%). Hombres: 350 (68,2%), edad promedio 71,2 ± 8,4 años, mediana 70 (rango: 60-103), TT aislado 350 (68,2%), asociado a lesiones extratorácicas 163 (31,8%) y de estos 96 (18,7%) se consideraron politraumatismos. Traumatismo contuso 456 (88,9%) y penetrante 57 (11,1%). La causa más frecuente fueron las caídas en 252 (49,1%). Lesiones y/o hallazgos torácicos más frecuentes: fracturas costales 409 (79,7%), hemotórax 186 (36,3%) y neumotórax 185 (36,1%). Tratamiento definitivo: médico 287 (55,9%), pleurotomía 193 (37,6%) y cirugía 40 (7,8%). Cirugía extratorácica 33 (6,4%). Hospitalización promedio 9,0 ± 8,8 días. Según IGT: ISS promedio 12,1 ± 9,6, RTS-T promedio 11,6 ± 1,3, TRISS promedio 8,1. Morbilidad 76 (14,8%) y mortalidad 26 (5,1%). Discusión: La mayoría de los TT en AM son contusos, causados por accidentes domésticos. Las lesiones y hallazgos más frecuentes fueron fracturas costales y hemotórax. La mortalidad fue menor a la esperada según IGT.

Introduction: Trauma is the fifth leading cause of death in the elderly (60 or older), with blunt trauma being the most frequent. Objective: To describe characteristics, Trauma Severity Indices (TSI) and morbidity and mortality in hospitalized elderly for Thoracic Trauma (TT). Materials and Method: Crosssectional descriptive study was carried out. Term: from January 1981 to December 2017. Database review, surgical protocols and medical records were performed. TT description of characteristics was conducted in hospitalized elderly. TSI was calculated: Injury Severity Score (ISS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS-T), Trauma Injury Severity Score (TRISS). Results: Total 4.163 TT, 513 elderly (12.3%). Men: 350 (68.2%), average age 71.2 ± 8.4 years, 70 median (range 60-103). Isolated TT: 350 (68.2%), 163 associated with extrathoracic trauma (31.8%) and of these 96 (18.7%) were considered polytraumatism. Blunt trauma 456 (88.9%) and penetrating 57 (11.1%). Most frequent domestic accident mechanism was 196 (38.2%) and 158 traffic accidents (30.8%). Frequently thoracic injuries or findings: 409 rib fractures (79.7%), 186 hemothorax (36.3%), and 185 pneumothorax (36.1%). Final treatment: 287 Medical treatment (55.9%), 193 pleurotomy (37.6%), and 40 thoracic surgery (7.8%). Extrathoracic surgery 33 (6.4%). Average hospitalization: 9.0 ± 8.8 days. According IGT: ISS 12.1 ± 9.6, RTS-T 11.6 ± 1.3, TRISS 8.1. Morbidity: 76 (14.8%) and mortality: 26 (5.1%). Discussion: Most TT in elderly are blunt, caused by domestic accidents. Injuries and most frequent findings were rib fractures and hemothorax. Mortality was lower than expected according to TSI.

Incidence and characteristics of proximal femoral fractures in an Afro-Caribbean population.

BACKGROUND: Although fractures of the proximal femur (FPF) are supposedly less frequent in Black populations (studies of incidence are rare) the life expectancy in Africa is low, which could partially explain this notion. There is only one retrospective study on the incidence of FPF in the islands of the Caribbean, thus we performed an incidence study in the insular, circumscribed, 90% Afro-Caribbean population of Martinique. The goals of this study were: (1) to estimate the incidence of FPF; (2) and to prospectively describe the main characteristics. HYPOTHESIS: The incidence of fractures of the proximal femur in Martinique is lower than in Western countries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The raw and standardized incidence ratio of FPF in relation to the world population was estimated based on data from the Medical Information System Program (Programme de médicalisation des systèmes d'information [PMSI]) for all of Martinique for a period of 4 years (January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2013). Characteristics were based on all patients over the age of 60 who presented to the Fort-de-France University Hospital (CHU) for a FPF between December 1, 2011 and April 31, 2012. Patients with light-skin phenotype, high-energy fractures and secondary fractures were excluded from the study. RESULTS: The standardized incidence ratio in relation to the world population was estimated (n=794) as 22.5/100,000 patient-years [20.6-24.4]: 22.6 and 22.4/100,000 in men and women respectively. The characteristics of eighty-seven patients (including 56 women), mean age 85.3 (±7.2) (62-100) years old were evaluated: 52 femoral neck fractures (60%) and 33 fractures of the greater trochanter (38%). The 2-month mortality rate was 21%, and 1/3 of the surviving patients could function independently. The risk of death increased in relation to the initial risk of moderate to severe dementia. DISCUSSION: The incidence of FPF in Martinique is lower than in Western countries and includes, as expected, an elderly, female population. Unlike a previous study performed in Guadeloupe, there was a majority of femoral neck fractures. A Caribbean multi-insular study is needed to confirm these results and to obtain precise data on bone density. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV; descriptive prospective epidemiological study.