Assessment in geriatric trauma: what you need to know.

The percentage of elderly people in the United States is increasing. They are remaining active and independent and are experiencing injury at the same rate as the rest of the population. Although the elderly are subject to the same mechanisms of injury as other age groups, geriatric patients are unique in their responses to injury. The physiologic, metabolic, and biomechanical changes that occur with aging can affect the ability to withstand major stress, can increase the incidence of complications, and can decrease the chance for survival. Trauma care providers should be aware of the many changes that occur with aging and how to modify care to assist this group of patients to maximum recovery.