Falls injuries force trauma rethink
Friday April 7th, 2017
Injuries from falls are now the most common type of major trauma in England and Wales, according to a new analysis.
It means that trauma units spend much of their time treating elderly patients rather than the road accident victims, who used to be bulk of their work.
Experts called for a "rethink" of organisation and training in trauma systems to deal with the changes.
The research, from the Trauma Audit & Research Network, also found that elderly trauma patients are less likely to see a consultant than younger patients when they arrive in hospital.
Researchers studied data on 8,176 injured patients over the age of 60.
Professor Tim Coats, professor of emergency medicine at Leicester University, said: "This important report highlights that there is a previously under-recognised role for Trauma Units across the UK in the identification and management of major trauma in older people.
"We need to re-think the organisation and training within trauma systems and realise that there are two distinct forms of major trauma, so that we can individualise and to optimise treatment.”
Consultant orthogeriatrician Dr Mark Baxter, from University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The report makes it clear that there is a change in the nature of patients who suffer from major trauma and we need to adapt to this new reality
"Older people, often with frailty, present a specific challenge to the trauma centres as they are more likely to have other, co-existing, illnesses which require a different response with specialists in care of older people involved in their care from the outset.”
And Professor Fiona Lecky, professor of emergency medicine at Sheffield University, added: “The new NHS England Major Trauma Networks are having to adapt to this unexpected and increasing public health problem of major injuries sustained by older people in the home.
“There is an urgent need for prevention programmes to tackle this growing problem and for research to improve our understanding of how to best manage the complex challenges of major trauma in older people.”
Tags: A&E | Elderly Health | NHS | UK News
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