With rising life expectancy, the number of geriatric trauma patients continues to grow, creating major challenges for trauma systems and emergency departments. Older adults are more vulnerable to injury, experience worse outcomes compared to younger patients, and demand greater hospital resources. Despite increasing research interest, the lack of prospective randomized trials makes it difficult to establish evidence-based protocols for this population. Scope of the Problem Falls remain the leading cause of geriatric trauma, followed by motor vehicle and pedestrian collisions.
Falls not only occur more frequently but are also associated with higher fatality rates. These trends highlight the urgent need for preventive strategies tailored to older adults, especially targeting fall risks and motor-vehicle safety. Compared to younger trauma victims, geriatric patients typically suffer higher…
