Analise comparativa das caracteristicas do trauma entre pacientes idosos e nao idosos
OBJECTIVE: Assess the characteristics of trauma in the elderly by comparison to a group of younger trauma patients. METHODS: Trauma protocols from June 10, 2008 to March 9, 2009 were evaluated including all trauma patients above 13 years of age admitted in the emergency room. Data on trauma mechanism, concomitant diseases, vital signs upon admission, diagnosed injuries, trauma indexes, exams and treatment was collected. Patients above 60 years of age. were included in the elderly group (group I) Data was compared between this group and the younger patients (group II) using the Student's t, chi square and Fisher exact tests, considering p 3) in the head were more frequently observed in group I (11.4% vs 7% (p=0,023) Some injuries were more frequent in group I: subdural hematomas (2.8% vs 0.8% (p=0.008) subarachnoid hemorrhage (3.8% vs 1.3% (p=0.005) and cerebral contusions (5.2% vs 2.3% (p=0.015) CONCLUSION: In comparison to younger trauma patients, the elderly group was characterized by a higher frequency of falls from their own height, concomitant diseases and severe injuries in the head, mainly subdural hematomas, cerebral contusions and subarachnoid hemorrhage.