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