Elderly trauma patients with rib fractures are at greater risk of death and pneumonia

J Trauma. 2003 Mar;54(3):478-85. doi: 10.1097/01.TA.0000037095.83469.4C.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to show that elderly patients admitted with rib fractures after blunt trauma have increased mortality.

Methods: Demographic, injury severity, and outcome data on a cohort of consecutive adult trauma admissions with rib fractures to a tertiary care trauma center from April 1, 1993, to March 31, 2000, were extracted from our trauma registry.

Results: Among 4,325 blunt trauma admissions, there were 405 (9.4%) patients with rib fractures; 113 were aged > or = 65. Injuries were severe, with Injury Severity Score (ISS) > or = 16 in 54.8% of cases, a mean hospital stay of 26.8 +/- 43.7 days, and 28.6% of patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Mortality (19.5% vs. 9.3%; p < 0.05), presence of comorbidity (61.1% vs. 8.6%; p < 0.0001), and falls (14.6% vs. 0.7%; p < 0.0001) were significantly higher in patients aged > or = 65 despite significantly lower ISS (p = 0.031), higher Glasgow Coma Scale score (p = 0.0003), and higher Revised Trauma Score (p < 0.0001). After adjusting for severity (i.e., ISS and Revised Trauma Score), comorbidity, and multiple rib fractures, patients aged > or = 65 had five times the odds of dying when compared with those < 65 years old.

Conclusion: Despite lower indices of injury severity, even after taking account of comorbidities, mortality was significantly increased in elderly patients admitted to a trauma center with rib fractures.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Comorbidity
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Female
  • Fractures, Bone / classification
  • Fractures, Bone / complications*
  • Fractures, Bone / mortality
  • Geriatrics*
  • Humans
  • Injury Severity Score
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Length of Stay
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumonia / etiology*
  • Ribs / injuries*
  • Risk Factors