J Trauma
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Comparative Study
Survival advantage for elderly trauma patients treated in a designated trauma center.
This article analyzes the effectiveness of designated trauma centers (DTCs) in Florida concerning reduction in the mortality risk of severely injured elderly trauma victims. ⋯ Treatment of severely injured elderly trauma patients in DTCs is associated with statistically significant gains in the probability of survival.
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To analyze casualties from the Camp Eagle Study, focusing on life-saving interventions (LSI) and potentially survivable deaths. ⋯ LSI were required by most urgent casualties, and a lack or delay in their performance was associated with increased mortality. Forward deployment of blood components may represent the next addition to LSI if logistical and scope-of-practice issues can be overcome.
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Comparative Study
Risk factors for hip fracture sites and mortality in older adults.
Our study was designed to (1) investigate the risk factors associated with cervical or trochanteric hip fractures; and (2) identify the risk factors for increased mortality in the elderly population sustaining hip fractures, after adjusting the miscellaneous baseline prefracture conditions. ⋯ The novel GTFN ratio was associated with hip fracture sites. Clinically, cervical and trochanteric fractures represent different disease entities because of the difference in their mortality rates.
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The ability to return to running and sports participation after lower extremity limb salvage has not been well documented previously. Although the ability to ambulate without pain or assistive devices is generally a criteria for a good limb salvage outcome, many patients at our institution have expressed a desire to return to a more athletic lifestyle to include running and sports participation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the types of athletic endeavors our high-energy lower extremity trauma patients were able to pursue after limb salvage. ⋯ Aggressive rehabilitation, an energy-storing ankle-foot orthosis, and running gait retraining can restore an active recreational lifestyle to patients who have undergone lower extremity limb salvage.
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The objective was to determine secular trends in unintentional fall-related hospitalizations in people aged 65 years and older in the United States. ⋯ Both the number and rate of fall-related hospitalizations in the United States increased significantly over the 8-year study period. Unless preventive action is taken, rising hospitalization rates in combination with the aging US population over the next decades will exacerbate the already stressed healthcare system and may result in poorer health outcomes for older adults in the future. Further research is needed to determine the underlying causes for this rising trend.