Does the pattern of injury in elderly pedestrian trauma mirror that of the younger pedestrian?

BACKGROUND: Walking is the primary mode of transportation for people aged 65 y and over; hence pedestrian injuries are a substantial source of morbidity and mortality among elderly patients in the United States. This study is aimed at evaluating the pattern of injury in the elderly pedestrians and how it differs from younger patients. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank (2002-2006) was performed, with inclusion criteria defined as pedestrian injuries based on ICD-9 codes, excluding age < 15 y. The following age categories in years were created: 15-24 (reference group), 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, 75-84, and 85-89. The injury prevalence was compared, and multivariate regression for mortality was conducted adjusting for demographic and injury characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 79,307 patients were analyzed. Superficial injuries were the most common at 29.1%, with lower extremity fractures and intracranial injuries following at 25.1% and 21.4% respectively. The very elderly (75-84 and 85-89) had significantly higher rates of fractures of the pelvis(16.2% and 16.8% versus 8.1% in the youngest group), upper (19.3% and 18.4% versus 9.8%), lower extremities (31.1% and 31.9% versus 22.5%) and intracranial injuries (25.5% and 28.7% versus 22.4%), but sustained lower rates of hepatic (2.3% and 1.7% versus 3.0%) injuries, with no difference seen in pancreatic, splenic, and genitourinary injuries. On multivariate analysis, very elderly patients were six to eight times more likely to die (OR 6.24 and 8.27, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Elderly patients have higher rates of fractures and intracranial injuries with an extremely worse mortality after pedestrian trauma.

Ureteral trauma: patterns and mechanisms of injury of an uncommon condition.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic ureteral injuries are uncommon, thus large series are lacking. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank (2002-2006). RESULTS: Of the 22,706 genitourinary injuries, 582 ureteral injury patients were identified (38.5% blunt, 61.5% penetrating). Patients were 84% male, 38% white, and 37% black (mean age, 31 y). Blunt trauma patients had a median Injury Severity Score of 21.5 versus 16.0 for penetrating injury (P < .001). Mortality rates were 9% blunt, and 6% penetrating (P = .166). Penetrating trauma patients had a higher incidence of bowel injuries (small bowel, 46%; large bowel, 44%) and vascular injuries (38%), whereas blunt trauma patients had a higher incidence of bony pelvic injuries (20%) (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Ureteral injuries are uncommon, seen in approximately 3 per 10,000 trauma admissions, and occur more in penetrating than in blunt trauma. The most common associated injury for blunt ureteral trauma is pelvic bone fracture, whereas penetrating ureteral trauma patients have more hollow viscus and vascular injuries.