Profile of fatal geriatric trauma at a Level 1 trauma centre of India

Abstract

Background: Trauma in old age is a serious health issue and associated with high fatality. This study details the profile of fatal geriatric trauma at a Level 1 Indian trauma centre. Methods: This is a retrospective study. A total of 779 geriatric patients were admitted to the Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre during 2-year period from January 2014 to December 2015. A retrospective analysis was done of all 194 fatal geriatric trauma patients who underwent autopsy at our centre during this 2-year period. The study has been taken ethical clearance from the institutional review board. Setting: This study was conducted in a 165-bedded Level 1 trauma centre of India. Participants: Hundred and ninety-four fatal geriatric trauma patients were included in the study. Interventions: There were no interventions in this study. Measurements: Data were represented in median (range: minimum–maximum) and frequency (%). Results: The duration of admission of these 194 patients ranged from <1 to 91 days (median 3 days). The causes of trauma were road traffic accidents in 78 (40%), fall from height in 75 (39%), assault in 12 (6%), railway accident in 10 (5%) and unconsciousness in 10 (5%). The autopsy-proven primary cause of death was severe head injury in 89 (46%), septicaemia in 30 (15%), polytrauma in 11 (6%), orthotrauma in 12 (6%), haemorrhagic shock in 9 (5%), spinal injury in 8 (4%), musculoskeletal injury in 3 (2%) and fat embolism in 3 (2%). Conclusion: In our study, while most of the early deaths were due to severe head injuries, late deaths were predominantly due to infections.