[Thoracic trauma in elderly patients].

Abstract

UNLABELLED: We investigated clinical character of thoracic trauma in the octogenarians in local city. Between Jan 2000 and Dec 2004, 369 patients with thoracic trauma were managed in our clinic and 3 local city hospitals in Oita. Ninety patients (23%) were aged 80 or above, 177 patients (46.7%), 64 or below, and 102 patients (26.9%), from 65 to 79. Blunt trauma occurred in the elderly. Penetrating trauma occurred in only 3 younger patients. In the octogenarians, causes of trauma were falls in 54 (60%) of the patients, traffic accidents in 15 (16.7%), and strained back in 14 (15.6%). Falls occurred on steps, most commonly, from flat surface as the elder fails to navigate environmental hazards or simply drops owing to a syncopal episode or loss of balance. Fractures of the thoracic vertebrae with or without rib fractures were observed in 29 (32.2%) of the octogenarians. Overall mortality was 2.3%. Three octogenarians (3.3%) died of pneumonia. Twenty-two (24.4%) of the octogenarians could discharge to their home, but the other 67 patients (74.4%) were referred to nursing home. CONCLUSION: Falls most commonly occur in the octogenarians. Occasionally, the patients require to discharge to nursing home, because of fracture of thoracic vertebrae or debilitated disorder.