[Thoracic trauma in elderly patients].

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.