Geriatric trauma and injury prevention

Abstract

In the United States, trauma is the leading cause of death for children and adults less than 45 years of age. However, trauma does not only affect the young. Elderly or “geriatric” trauma, defined as injuries to individuals aged 65 years or above, accounts for a significant number of traumatic incidents, deaths, and expenditure of dollars resulting in an immense burden on the health-care system. Trauma in the elderly differs from trauma in younger adults in its incidence, presentation, management, and outcome. In this chapter we discuss the unique challenges and successes of injury prevention in the geriatric trauma patient.