Age is just a number: A look at “elderly” sport-related traumatic injuries at a level I trauma center

Abstract

BackgroundWe aimed to describe elderly engagement in recreational activities, their injury patterns, preinjury risks and outcomes. MethodsA 16-year retrospective trauma registry review. All trauma patients ≥65 years admitted after injury sustained during sport were evaluated, and compared to a non-sport cohort of elderly trauma patients. ResultsDuring the study period, 9697 admissions age ≥65 were identified. 526 (5%) were sport-related. Compared to the non-sport group, the sport cohort was younger, had fewer medical comorbidities, and was more severely injured. The common sport mechanisms were skiing, offroad vehicle use and bicycling, and common sport injuries involved lower extremity, chest, and head. Sport patients were more often discharged home than non-sport patients (73% vs 36%, p < 0.001). There was no difference in ICU or hospital LOS between groups. The hospital mortality rate was 3% in sport and 5% in non-sport patients (p = 0.06). ConclusionOver time, the number of elderly sport-related trauma patients increased. Our data suggest that being active may improve outcomes after trauma in older adults.