Thoracoabdominal injuries in the elderly: 25 years of experience.

BACKGROUND

The present study was conducted to determine the clinical characteristics and outcome of hospitalized elderly patients with thoracic and thoracoabdominal injuries.

METHOD

This is a longitudinal, nonblinded study using established standard of care of patients with penetrating and blunt chest trauma. From April 1972 to August 1997, 5,702 patients were hospitalized for chest injuries. Out of these patients, 171 (3%) were aged 65 or above. Of these patients, 96 (56%) had blunt trauma (group 1)--motor vehicle accident in 83 (86%) and falls in 13 (14%). The remaining 75 (44%) patients had penetrating injuries (group 2)--gunshot wounds in 47 (63%) and stab wounds in 28 (37%).

RESULTS

Of the blunt trauma patients, 45% (43/96), and 15% (11/75) of the penetrating trauma patients were managed by observation alone; the remainder required surgical procedures. The overall mortality was 10% (17/171), of which mortality among penetrating and blunt trauma to the chest were 12% (9/75) and 8% (8/96), respectively. Of eight deaths due to blunt trauma, six had multiple (four or more) rib fractures. There were no deaths among the 54 patients who were simply observed, and none of them required surgery at a later date. Complication rate among the survivors was 12.3%, with only 0.4% being infectious.

CONCLUSIONS

Mortality was highest among the elderly with penetrating chest trauma. Mortality was high because of cardiac and great vessel injuries in group 2, whereas multiple rib fractures and brain injuries were the higher cause of mortality in group-1 patients. Infectious complications were low among the survivors.