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Practice review
Blunt chest trauma in the elderly: an expert practice review
  1. Fraser Birse1,
  2. Helen Williams2,
  3. David Shipway3,
  4. Edward Carlton1
  1. 1 Emergency Department, Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK
  2. 2 Anaesthetic Department, Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK
  3. 3 Department of Medicine for Older People, Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Fraser Birse, Emergency Department, Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK; fraserbirse{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Trauma in the elderly (>65 years) is an increasingly common presentation to the ED. A fall from standing height is the most common mechanism after which such patients present, and rib fracture is the most common non-spinal fracture. Thoracic injury in patients aged over 65 is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. There are currently no universally applied guidelines for assessment, investigation and management of such patients. In this expert practice review, we discuss the evidence base and options for clinical management in this vulnerable patient group.

  • analgesia/pain control
  • geriatrics
  • trauma, chest

https://doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2019-209143

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors EC planned the manuscript following invitation from the editorial board and guarantees the overall content. FB, HW, DS and EC contributed equally to the manuscript content and approved final submission.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent for publication Not required.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.