Comparative study of trauma in the elderly and non-elderly Comparative study of trauma in the elderly and non-elderly Comparative study of trauma in the elderly and non-elderly Comparative study of trauma in the elderly and non-elderly Comparative study of trauma in the elderly and non-elderly patients in a University Hospital in Curitiba patients in a University Hospital in Curitiba patients in a University Hospital in Curitiba patients in a University Hospital in Curitiba patients in a University Hospital in Curitiba Estudo comparativo entre o trauma em idosos e não idosos atendidos em um Estudo comparativo entre o trauma em idosos e não idosos atendidos em um Estudo comparativo entre o trauma em idosos e não idosos atendidos em um Estudo comparativo entre o trauma em idosos e não idosos atendidos em um Estudo comparativo entre o trauma em idosos e não idosos atendidos em um 2010 and February, 25 th 2011; patients were classified into GI: elderly (60 years or older) and GA: non-elderly (13-59 years). We collected information on the mechanism of trauma, injuries and factors associated with the event, which were compared between groups by using chi-square, Student t and proportions tests. Results Results ResultsResults Results: Falls were more frequent in GI, mostly from the standing height, while violence and traffic accidents (especially with motorcycles) were the most important in GA. Both groups possessed mild trauma (bruises, sprains) as the most frequent, followed by traumatic brain injury (TBI) and fractures. Femur fractures were more common in the elderly, and hand and wrist fractures in the nonelderly. The elderly were hospitalized fewer days and there was no difference as for complications, need for intensive care unit (ICU), or mortality between groups. Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion Conclusion: Falls from the standing height are more frequent in the elderly, and motorcycle accidents and interpersonal violence in the non-elderly. Both groups had superficial injuries, head trauma and fractures as major injuries. The elderly were hospitalized for less time. There was no difference in the need for ICU, complications and mortality. Young people tend to get involved in trauma by external violence and traffic accidents, influenced largely by the use of alcohol and drugs 3 . In the elderly there is a greater incidence of nonviolent traumas, generally predisposed by use of drugs or age-related diseases, such as gait disturbances, decreased visual acuity or hearing and osteoporosis 4 . Among those younger than 60 years, the population aged between 15 and 44 years has a higher risk of death from unintentional causes in relation to other groups, this risk being highest in the group 15-29 years.From 45 on, mortality decreases and unintentional causes tend to increase in proportion.When it comes to the elderly population, the number of hospitalizations was lower, around 190,000 in the period from 2008 to January 2010, the mortality rate was 5.45 and the average hospital stay, approximately six day...