Etiology of facial fractures in elderly Finns during 2006-2007

Abstract

Age-related factors and preexisting medical problems predispose the elderly to falls and subsequent fractures. Footwear traction devices are recommended during the cold season. Orbital fractures should be strongly suspected in the elderly.

Elderly patients with facial trauma: a 10 year review

“…The anatomical location of these bones in the facial skeleton predisposes them to trauma, due to their lateral projection 3 . The higher incidence of fractures in the middle third in elderly patients is in agreement with other studies 7,10,16,17 . The low incidence of mandibular fractures seems to be related to the etiological agents of the trauma, and only two cases of dentoalveolar fractures were found, a fact that is explained by the high incidence of edentulism among elderly patients 6,10 .…”

“…There was a greater prevalence of associated injuries as age increased. According to Toivari et al, associated injuries are more common in elderly patients than in young adult patients, with more frequent cerebral concussions and higher mortality rates 17 . The low number of elderly patients treated for facial trauma during the period analyzed is a limitation of the present study.…”

Defining Population-Specific Craniofacial Fracture Patterns and Resource Use in Geriatric Patients

“…Although comparisons between these populations with regard to craniofacial trauma have been made, previous studies have lacked subject numbers large enough to perform fracture-specific and multivariable analysis. 3,6,[20][21][22][23][24] The study did not aim to provide fracture-specific treatment algorithms for geriatric patients, as this has previously been reported by our group, 9 and principles of treatment do not differ drastically between geriatric and nongeriatric adult populations. 25 Also, our study did not evaluate preexisting medical conditions, which may significantly increase the rates of death following trauma in geriatric patients, either during hospitalization or within 1 year of a fall.…”

Changing trends in epidemiology and management of facial trauma in a Swiss geriatric population

“…Due to better quality of life, an increasingly active lifestyle and growing mobility of older people, especially in industrialised countries, the number of injuries and hospital admissions is expected to increase simultaneously with life expectancy in the upcoming years . The higher risk of trauma, age‐related physiologic changes, associated co‐morbidities such as osteoporosis, gait insecurity and propensity to fall, weakness, cognitive impairment and polypharmacy all contribute to higher morbidity and mortality in patients with already limited physiological reserves . For all these reasons, the incidence and severity of geriatric trauma can be expected to increase, which has clinical and public health consequences …”