Motorcycle-related trauma: effects of age and site of injuries on mortality. A single-center, retrospective study.

Abstract

BackgroundMotorcyclists are often victims of road traffic incidents. Though elderly patients seem to have worse survival outcomes and sustain more severe injuries than younger patients, concordance in the literature for this does not exist. The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of age and injury severity on the mortality of patients undergoing motorcycle trauma. MethodsData of 1725 patients consecutively admitted to our Trauma Center were selected from 2002 to 2016 and retrospectively analyzed. The sample was divided into three age groups: ≤ 17 years, 18-54 years and ≥ 55 years. Mortality rates were analyzed for the overall population and patients with Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥ 25. Differences in survival among age groups were evaluated with Log-Rank test and multivariate logistic regression models were created to identify independent predictors of mortality.ResultsA lower survival rate was detected in patients older than 55 years (83,6% vs 94,7%; p = 0.049) and in those sustaining critical injuries (ISS ≥ 25, 61% vs 83% p = 0.021). Age (p =0,027; OR: 1,03), ISS (p <0,001; OR: 1,09), Revised Trauma Score (RTS) (p <0,001; OR: 0,47) resulted independent predictors of death. Multivariate analysis identified head (p <0,001; OR: 2,04), chest (p <0,001; OR: 1,54), abdominal (p <0,001; OR: 1,37) and pelvic (p =0,014; OR: 1,26) injuries as independent risk factors related to mortality as well. Compared to the theoretical probability of survival, patients of all age groups showed a survival advantage when managed at a level I Trauma Center.ConclusionsWe detected anatomical injury distributions and mortality rates among three age groups. Patients aging more than 55 years had an increased risk of death, with a prevalence of severe chest injuries, while younger patients sustained more severe head trauma. Age represented an independent predictor of death. Management of these patients at a Level I Trauma Center may lead to improved outcomes.

Magnitude of chest trauma mortality and associated factors among adult patients admitted at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, North West Ethiopia, 2019

“…The current study revealed that there was a positive relationship between being old age and mortality of chest trauma patients. This is supported by the study done in Germany, Turkey, Massachusetts and England (29)(30)(31).As the age increase the patient comes with preexisting medical condition and diminished physiologic reserve (immunity) that inability to compensate for trauma and susceptible to pulmonary deterioration and often affected by other complications such as pneumonia (32).As age increase the thoracic cage is more prone to costal and sternal fractures resulting in severe injuries to internal organs, which may be lethal (33).…”